Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 10, to delete lines 5 to 8 and substitute the following:

“(2) An alpha-numeric code as prescribed by the Minister may be printed, in accordance with regulations under subsection (3), on a cigarette.”.

The amendment relates to the appearance of cigarettes. We are talking about individual cigarettes as opposed to the packet. We suggest that while manufacturers can put an alpha-numeric code on a cigarette nothing else should be allowed on it. When plain packaging and standardised packaging is introduced, is there anything to stop tobacco companies from putting anything other than an alpha-numeric code on individual cigarettes? I am concerned that manufacturers could present cigarettes in such a way that they would be enticing and that they would stand out from other cigarettes. Has any thought been given to the matter of individual cigarettes? While we will have a standardised package and graphic details showing the damage smoking can cause, once a pack is open and a cigarette is extracted is it not possible that manufacturers could put advertising on individual cigarettes? Nice, attractive coded messages could be put on cigarettes which would defeat the purpose. Individual cigarettes should be standardised in order to ensure there is no enticement or inducement possible.