Ms Sharon Cosgrove:

I wish the Chairman and members of the committee good morning and thank them for inviting us to this hearing. We representing the hundreds of thousands of people living with asthma in Ireland and we welcome the opportunity to share our views.

As many members will be aware, asthma is the most common chronic disease in the country and affects one-in-ten adults and one-in-five children. Tobacco smoke is one of the most common and dangerous asthma triggers. As others have said, tobacco is a unique product in that it causes the death of half of its users and is more addictive than any other product available legally in this country.

We are members of the Irish Lung Health Alliance, a coalition of 14 organisations working to improve lung health in Ireland. Ireland has one of the highest rates of respiratory illness in Europe, at almost double the EU average. One-in-five deaths in Ireland is from lung disease and smoking is the leading cause of respiratory death. The Irish Lung Health Alliance also fully supports this proposed legislation.

Tobacco not only adversely affects the user but also those around him or her. Passive smoking is particularly problematic for those with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma. The 2004 workplace smoking ban allowed people with asthma to work, study and socialise without fear of an attack, and yet those with asthma are still exposed to tobacco smoke every day and our members tell us smoking poses a problem day to day, even when going to their hospital appointments. Most worrying is that children with asthma are often exposed to tobacco smoke in the home and in cars.

Breathing tobacco smoke increases the risk of asthma. For every 1% increase in smoking prevalence, asthma admissions rise by 1%. Babies born to mothers who smoke while pregnant are more likely to develop asthma. Tobacco also worsens asthma control and lung function, reduces the effectiveness of medication, and increases the risk of virus and infection. Smoking with asthma greatly increases the chance of developing irreparable life-threatening conditions such as COPD.

One quarter of Asthma Society of Ireland service users, both on our advice line and at our clinics, in 2013 were smokers and despite the risks, those with asthma still smoke.

As to why one should introduce standardised tobacco packaging, it is that branding works. Those with asthma feel the adverse affects that tobacco has on their health the minute they smoke their first cigarette, and yet they smoke. This is because branding works. Parents of children with asthma smoke in their homes and in their cars, despite the risk to their children's health. This is because branding works. The tobacco industry is fighting to defeat this proposed legislation in order to maintain its profits and its power to recruit new smokers.

Branding sells products and is so powerful that it can even sell a 50:50 chance of death. Addiction keeps people smoking and branding entices them to start. Countless research studies throughout the globe show that standardised tobacco packaging reduces smoking prevalence by reducing the appeal of smoking and increasing awareness of the health risks. Furthermore, plain tobacco packaging is found to be even more effective on young people than the rest of the population.
The tobacco industry and other interests may argue that this legislation will cost the economy and reduce the approximately €1 billion in State revenue from the sale of tobacco products. Yet the costs of maintaining thestatus quo are much greater. Lost work days due to asthma alone costs the economy €262 million each year. The total cost to the State of respiratory illness is estimated at €1.036 billion, with asthma accounting for €501 million of this. It is estimated that the overall cost of smoking-related illness to the State is in excess of €4 billion.
The example set by Australia is inspiring countries throughout the world to take action against tobacco. Public opinion is also in favour of plain packaging. A recent survey carried out by an alliance of health and children’s charities found that the majority of Irish people support this legislation. Ireland was the first European country to introduce a workplace ban on smoking. It is now time for Ireland to again take the lead in protecting the lives and lungs of future generations. We in the Asthma Society of Ireland fully support this legislation and urge its speedy implementation.