I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 389, inclusive, and 465 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, there is no requirement to carry out a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) as part of the policy development process, or in order to make policy recommendations. The Revised RIA Guidelines published by the Department of the Taoiseach in 2009 makes it clear that RIA applies only to Policy Review Groups established to bring forward proposals for legislation.
Following on from Towards a Tobacco Free Society, which was adopted as Government policy in 2000, the Department of Health initiated a review to identify what further policy proposals might be introduced to continue to reduce the prevalence and initiation of smoking in Ireland. The review was completed by the Tobacco Policy Review Group in the context of other initiatives already implemented with regard to reducing the prevalence of tobacco use. The terms of reference of the review were:
(a) To examine Irish and international evidence and experience of effective measures and programmes to reduce smoking prevalence; and
(b) To make policy proposals to the Minister aimed at reducing smoking initiation and prevalence.
Following consultation with relevant Government Departments the Report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group, Tobacco Free Ireland was submitted to Government for approval in July 2013 and formally launched in October 2013. There are 63 recommendations contained in Tobacco Free Ireland. Some of these relate to the future development of legislation. Each legislative proposal in the report will require future Government approval.
Tobacco Free Ireland sets out recommendations for the future regulation of the tobacco retail environment. The Government proposes to increase the Retail Register fee during 2014, in the context of legislation to provide for the licensing of the sale of tobacco products as outlined in Tobacco Free Ireland. Work is ongoing in relation to this legislation, and as such details are not yet available. In line with the Regulatory Impact Assessment Guidelines (RIA) published by the Department of the Taoiseach, my Department will undertake a Regulatory Impact Analysis on the proposed legislation in due course.