ASH Ireland congratulates Mr. David Byrne

Date: 17 June 2004

ASH Ireland congratulates Mr. David Byrne, EU Health Commissioner, on ratifying the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) today on behalf of the E.U.

The ratification took place during the major Limerick conference on tobacco control organised as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency. “Change is in the Air – Future Direction in Tobacco Control in the E.U.”

Speaking at the conference, Professor Luke Clancy, Chairman of ASH Ireland said, “This is a major step forward for tobacco control in Europe and the world. ASH Ireland looks forward to the Dail ratifying the FCTC in this parliamentary session. Mr. David Byrne and Mr. Micheal Martin have shown strong leadership in dealing with the tobacco problem which kills some 6,000 Irish people and 650,000 Europeans annually.”

Professor Clancy urges all other E.U. countries to follow the leadership shown by Minister Martin and to ratify the Who FCTC as a matter of urgency.