Dr. Tony Holohan:

We are in constant communication with Australia and with the Department there. According to some of the initial work it has done, there are perceived differences in the taste of the products, which gives us preliminary encouragement, but we have to await a proper evaluation. I am not suggesting the Deputy has said anything in this regard, but we would all feel it was reasonable that they be given a period of 12 months in which to evaluate something that has not yet been introduced anywhere else. All the evidence we have points towards success. I am certainly satisfied about it. We are satisfied as to the evidence base behind what we are doing.

The Deputy asked what value we may be able to get out of using the disposal of seized cigarettes in a promotional sense. That is an interesting question that we will consider in our discussions with the Revenue Commissioners, with whom we have an ongoing relationship in the context of much of this work. Certainly our intention in much of that engagement is that we seek collectively to up our performance in terms of the alignment between what we are trying to do and what the Revenue Commissioners are trying to do. Ultimately we have the same objective, which is to reduce the number of cigarettes in existence. We are certain they have common cause with us on our objective of reducing smoking.

Deputy Regina Doherty raised a specific point about head 13. That is an exclusion for people who purchase cigarettes that do not meet our labelling requirements outside the State and bring them in. That is to exclude from the penalties people who bring back cigarettes from their holidays.