Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2010
231 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; if officials from his Department are attending or have attended the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on a Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products fourth session in Geneva, Switzerland, between 14 and 21 March 2010; his views on this protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12731/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that I am aware of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that, following its adoption in May 2003 by the 56th World Health Assembly, was signed by Ireland on 10 September 2003 and ratified on 7 November 2005.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the current discussions that are taking place at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) in Geneva are for the purposes of drafting and negotiating a protocol on the illicit trade in tobacco products in order to build on and complement the provisions of Article 15 of the FCTC.
As this protocol concerns the illicit trade in tobacco products, Ireland has been represented at all four INB meetings held to date, including the latest, by officials from the Revenue Commissioners who are responsible for tackling the smuggling of tobacco products rather than by officials from my Department or the Department of Health and Children who would normally represent Ireland at meetings organised by the World Health Organisation.
As regards the protocol, while I understand that progress has been slow primarily because of the difficulty in drafting a protocol that is acceptable to all 168 countries that are parties to the FCTC, I can assure the Deputy that Ireland, along with the other Member States of the European Union, is pushing for the adoption of a strong and balanced protocol that will contain effective and meaningful measures to combat the illicit trade in tobacco products on a world wide basis.
