Ireland V Tobacco - Making a difference in the fight against tobacco abuse

Peter McDonnell is Europe’s foremost campaigner in the battle to make tobacco companies accountable and liable for the damage caused to generations of smokers. He has consistently been a major contributor to the national and international debate on tobacco harm through numerous media appearances in Ireland and the United States as well as through keynote addresses to conferences. Peter’s persistent lobbying of the Irish Government has had a direct and pivotal role in Ireland becoming the first country in the world to introduce an outright ban on smoking in public places. He has instituted legal proceedings against major tobacco companies through the Irish courts. This succeeded in raising huge awareness of the issue but ultimately an inability to match the combined resources of the tobacco industry led to the collapse of the case. He is currently focussing on a global drive to compile the level of resources necessary to institute fresh proceedings and force the tobacco companies to accept culpability and provide compensation for the grievous harm they have caused to millions of people through premature death and a wide range of serious disabilities.