Irish legal practice urged to cut tobacco link

An Irish legal practice involved in a threatened tobacco-company action over proposed standardized tobacco packaging legislation is coming under pressure from Health Minister Leo Varadkar to sever its connection with the tobacco industry.

Arthur Cox was said to be already facing questions from the Health Service Executive, one of its many public clients, over its involvement in a threatened court action by JTI Ireland against the government’s plan to impose standardized packaging.

The firm, which is among Ireland’s most powerful solicitors’ practices, is legal adviser to JTI Ireland, which has threatened to sue Varadkar and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs James Reilly if they fail to halt standardized packaging legislation by today.

Varadkar issued a statement to the Times when asked whether he had confidence in Arthur Cox as corporate legal adviser to the HSE at a time when it was representing JTI Ireland in a threatened legal action to block a public health policy.

“There is no conflict of interest as the legislation is being prepared by the Departments of Health and Children and not by the HSE,” said Varadkar.

“But I do think it would reflect well on Arthur Cox if they didn’t represent tobacco companies.”