The Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children will this week be given the powers of discovery of documents and compellability of witnesses for its forthcoming investigation into the tobacco industry.
Cross-party support is expected for a Government motion to be introduced in the Dail later this week to give the committee powers similar to those used by the Public Accounts Committee for the DIRT inquiry.
However, the committee's chairman, Mr Batt O'Keeffe, cautioned last night against an automatic assumption that the investigation would result in the State suing tobacco companies to recover expenditure spent in treating smokers for tobacco-related illnesses.
"Our role will be to inquire into the matter. However, the Government will have to determine whether our evidence is strong enough to successfully pursue a legal case," Mr O'Keeffe said.
The committee will seek legal advice on the procedures for its investigation. A report will be prepared before calling representatives of the tobacco industry and medical personnel to give evidence.
Latest figures indicate that tobacco-related diseases result in the premature deaths of some 6,000 people every year.
The Government's anti-smoking strategy will be outlined in a policy document to be published later today by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin. One of its main recommendations will be the raising of the minimum age of people to whom cigarettes can be sold to 18 years and the establishment of an Office of Tobacco Control to enforce anti-smoking legislation.
A report from the Oireachtas committee published last November indicated that 21 per cent of children in the 9-to-17 age group smoke cigarettes, while some 34 per cent in the 15-17 age group are regular smokers.
The Dail will this week discuss a Fine Gael Private Members' Bill which would make it unlawful to sell cigarettes or other tobacco products to anyone under 18. The Bill also proposes outlawing cigarette-vending machines in any premises frequented by under-18s. It requires cigarette retailers to properly verify the age of young people purchasing cigarettes.
It recommends increasing penalties which can be imposed on people who sell cigarettes to under-18s.
A first offender would be subjected to a fine of up to £2,500 while a second or subsequent offence would render an offender liable to a fine not exceeding £5,000, along with a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months.
While the Government will indicate its support for the Fine Gael Bill, it is expected to vote it down in the Dail ahead of the publication later this year of a new Tobacco Bill that will update existing legislation in relation to smoking and the tobacco industry.