How public consultations work in Ireland
If you thought our consultation process was dodgy, read on.
On Thursday December 20, five days before Christmas, the Department of Health in Ireland launched a Public Consultation on a proposal for an EU Directive on the Tobacco Products Directive.
According to the Government:
The Department of Health wishes to have as many views as possible from the public and stakeholders with an interest in the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products ...
To inform Ireland’s position, the Department would welcome the views of the public and interested parties on any aspect of the draft proposal including:
- Ingredients and emissions
- Labelling and packaging
- Traceability and security features
- Tobacco for oral use
- Cross border distance sales of tobacco
- Novel tobacco products
- Nicotine containing products
Closing date for submissions: Wednesday, January 16, 2013.
That's right, the Irish Government launched a four-week consultation with half the consultation period falling over Christmas and the New Year!!
Moreover, how public is this "public" consultation? Well, this morning I Googled 'public consultation, ireland, tobacco products directive' and not a single news report came up.
But don't worry, the tobacco control lobby knows all about it. The Irish Heart Foundation, for example, has drafted an email and is encouraging supporters to send it to the Department of Heath in Dublin. (See Tell the Department what you think.)
And the reason this is important? Well, for the first half of 2013 Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of European Union. The Irish Government is therefore is a strong position to support the Directive which includes proposals to:
- increase the size of health warnings so that they cover at least 75 per cent of the front and back of the packet
- ban cigarettes and other tobacco products (roll your own tobacco and smokeless tobacco) that contain "characterising flavours" such as menthol, and
- ban smokeless and nicotine containing products, including electronic cigarettes, unless authorised as medicinal products (like nicotine replacement therapies).
If you're interested you'll find details of the consultation here.
PS. I wonder if the Australian Government will be making a submission? Perhaps, at this very moment, a civil servant in Canberra is drafting a request for an extension to the closing date.