Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

Yes, and to some extent the free market rules at EU level and the requirements of the Single Market take precedence over health concerns in respect of a number of different products. I will consider the area and possible restriction of the numbers which can be brought in. There is much anecdotal evidence of people arriving from parts of Europe, and eastern Europe in particular, with bags of cigarettes for sale locally in estates. We could take some action on that.

Senator Burke raised the idea of the quit line number and the desirability of putting that number on the bottom of the warning. That does not require primary legislation and it would arise in the context of regulations. A balance must be struck as we are restricted with the amount of space that can be used for the warning. We try to select the images that are the most graphic and would have the greatest impact. As well as pictures, there is text and we are also required to have the text displayed bilingually. The amount of space for the graphic image is limited and it would be a judgment call whether to include the quit line number on the pack as well. To some extent, more is less if we are trying to gain a big impact from the pictorial images. I will bear the idea in mind when the regulations are being drawn up. I am conscious of the point made on the success of such an exercise elsewhere.

My immediate priority is to introduce the legislation before the House today, which will allow the Minister, Deputy Reilly, to make the regulations we want to see. The introduction of plain packaging will be considered by the tobacco policy review group, which is expected to report shortly. I stress that this is not the only initiative being taken at this point and is just specific amending legislation to allow us introduce pictorial images. With regard to plain packaging, I am aware that Australia's proposal to introduce such legislation is being challenged by the tobacco industry. The outcome of that legislation and the forthcoming revision of the EU tobacco products directive will inform policy in the area. I am certainly very open to the idea that we move to plain packaging because it seems to be a factor in glamour and identification of different brands. I thank Members for their contribution to the debate and their support.