As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President on 10 March 2015.
Prior to enactment, the draft legislation was formally notified to the Commission and to Member States under the EU Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) and the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) on 17 June 2014. Detailed opinions on the proposed measures were received from a number of Member States.
A response was drafted by officials in my Department, in consultation with the relevant Government Departments, and was submitted to the Commission on 26 January 2015. A further comment was received from one Member State. The Commission has not issued any comment on the matter.
The Government considers that the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 is a justified and proportionate public health measure. It is one of a suite of measures being put in place by Ireland to reduce the number of people smoking in order to meet the target of achieving a Tobacco Free Ireland (i.e. a prevalence rate of less than 5%) by 2025.
