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Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health, today attended the Irish Cancer Society’s X-HALE Awards Event. The event celebrates and showcases the achievements of youth groups across Ireland in raising awareness of the dangers of smoking in their communities. The event is the result of the work of young people over a period of months in devising and creating smoking prevention films and other actions to encourage their peers and communities to be smoke free.

The Minister congratulated all involved in this excellent project and presented awards to the winners. The 31 films and 3 community action projects communicate young people’s perceptions of smoking issues that are relevant to them including; the health effects of smoking, addiction, peer pressure, the power of the tobacco industry and the impact of tobacco on relationships and life opportunities.

Speaking after the event, the Minister said “What is on display here today is testament to the talents and creativity of the many young people involved in influencing change around tobacco issues within their own communities. This initiative complements the objectives of my Department's Tobacco Free Ireland strategy, which are to denormalise smoking and protect young people from the hazards of smoking”.