MEP Martina Anderson has taken her anti-smoking message to schools in Derry.
The Sinn Fein representative, who helped guide the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) through the EU Parliament, said the Directive contained strong measures which sought to limit the attractiveness of tobacco products to young people and children.
She said: “With 94% of smokers beginning to smoke before the age of 25, it is clear that action to prevent children and young people from starting to smoke is absolutely essential.”
She added: ““This Directive is a vote in favour of public health over the profits of the tobacco industry and I am glad to see that attempts to weaken the agreement and delay the directive were voted down.”
She concluded: “These products are the direct cause of 7000 deaths in Ireland every year, a shocking statistic which still does not convey the pain of the many others who continue to suffer from poor health.”
Ms Anderson visited Naíscoil na Daróige, Holy Family and St Eithne’s Primary Schools and also met with “key community builders” at a Spring into Action event at which she held discussions with representatives from groups such as ZEST, HURT, CAB, Community Wardens and Community Restorative Justice.
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