Action on Smoking and Health
Statement from Dr Patrick Doorley, Chairman, ASH Ireland on Plain Packaging
March 29, 2017.
ASH Ireland today welcomed the news that the Irish Government has finally signed the Commencement Order for the remaining provisions of the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015. Read more
ASH Ireland is delighted to welcome Walter (Wally) Young as the newest member of our Board of Directors.
ASH Ireland continually seeks people at board level who have the motivation and expertise to continue the fight against tobacco – and Wally’s reputation and vast experience from over 20 years as ASH Ireland’s council is well established. Read more
ASH IRELAND URGES SMOKERS TO TRY QUITTING THIS ASH WEDNESDAY
Over €4,000 per annum can be saved by quitting
ASH Ireland encourages all smokers to try quitting this ASH Wednesday (Tomorrow 1st March). ASH Wednesday has traditionally been a day when people try to quit smoking and it is a good time to make the decision, as others will be doing something similar at this time. Read more
Statement from Dr Patrick Doorley, Chairman of ASH Ireland
All of us at ASH Ireland are very pleased that Professor Shane Allwright, formerly of Trinity College, has accepted an invitation to join the board.
ASH Ireland continually seeks people at board level who have the motivation and expertise to continue the fight against tobacco – and Professor Allwright’s reputation in this field is well established and recognised at national and international level. Read more
Dr Patrick Doorley, Chairman of ASH Ireland said: “ASH Ireland welcomes this report published today on vaping by Cancer Research UK. All additional research information on this relatively new product is to be welcomed, especially from well-established and credible bodies who do not have a vested interest.” Read more
Despite the reduction in smoking prevalence in recent decades, regretfully, close to 6000 Irish people have died from the effects of smoking in 2017.
Tragically close to 200 people will lose their lives on our roads over the same period and there will rightly be an outcry at this unnecessary loss of life – yet the remarkable loss of life associated with smoking is largely ignored. The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirms that close to 6 million people will die worldwide because on smoking this year, with 600,000 of those losing their lives due to the effects of passive smoke. Read more
Press Statement, 21 December 2016
ASH Ireland welcomes confirmation from Minister Noonan today (Dec 21) that, ‘Ireland’s Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has completed the sale of its remaining investments in tobacco manufacturing’. ASH Ireland recently contacted the Minister on this same issue. Read more
Here is the full response from ASH Ireland Chairman Dr Patrick Doorley when it was put to him by the Irish Daily Mail that no charges have been brought on ‘smoking in cars with children’ since its inception. Read more
9th November, 2016: ASH Ireland today (Wednesday) organised a seminar at the Royal College of
Physicians, Dublin to explore ways of expanding Ireland’s smokefree third level campus sector.
Both Westport College and Athlone IT are already campus smokefree and both UCD and Trinity
College have commenced the ‘going smokefree’ process. Representatives of the third level sector
attended the seminar from all around the country with presentations from, Westport College,
Athlone IT, Trinity College and UCD.
Speaking at the seminar this morning, Dr Patrick Doorley, Chairman of ASH Ireland said, “This
seminar is building on the decisions already taken by Westport College and Athlone IT to implement
a smokefree campus policy.
“We want to encourage and assist other colleges in pursuing a ‘smokefree campus’ policy. In the
United States over 1700 third level colleges have gone smokefree and will remarkable success.
“Ireland has been a world leader in the fight against tobacco for well over a decade and we now
have an opportunity to take the lead in Europe with this initiative. Denormalisation is a key issue in
the fight against introducing a ‘smokefree policy’ in key locations is key factor reducing smoking
prevalence. We must also remember that tobacco waste is our biggest urban waste, so smokefree
campuses will reduce cost and create a much healthier environment for all.”
Also speaking at the seminar today, were Micheál Martin, TD, who as Minister for Health introduced
the workplace smoking ban; anti tobacco campaigner Professor Luke Clancy and Martin Murphy,
Stadium Director at the smokefree Aviva Stadium.
Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin TD commented, “The Smoking Ban still stands as an example of
what legislators can achieve for public health if we do the ground work, explain what we’re doing to
the public and then face down the vested interests.
“However, one important thing we need to guard against is any sense that the smoking ban was any
sort of an end point in the battle against tobacco. It was an important breakthrough, but the
tobacco industry continues to work very hard and spend huge sums of money to find new
customers, and develop new ways to get those customers hooked on consuming their products.
“All those of us in politics who are interested in developing public health need to remain vigilant. I
am particularly grateful to the team at ASH for their work in keeping these issues at the forefront of
debate and I look forward to working with them into the future to help Ireland keep leading the way
in the battle against tobacco.”
Today’s seminar is in keeping with ASH Ireland’s specific aims that direct its work towards the impact
of disease, disability and death caused by tobacco use in Ireland. This work is especially important as
Ireland moves toward the target date of 2025 for Ireland to become tobacco free.
Available for further comment and interview: Dr Patrick Doorley, Chairman.
ASH Ireland 