Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made with regard to the implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive here; the steps he has put in place to date; the matters yet to be addressed; the timeframe in which he anticipates implementation being completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6672/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The 2001 Tobacco Products Directive concerns the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products in the EU. Last December, following extensive consultation with stakeholders, including a public consultation, the European Commission published a proposal for a new EU Tobacco Products Directive, the ultimate purpose of which is to reduce the numbers of people smoking. Areas covered by the new proposal include ingredients and emissions, labelling and packaging, traceability and security features, nicotine containing products and cross border distance sales of tobacco.

The proposal is being discussed in the European Parliament and Council of Ministers and the Commission has expressed the hope that it will be adopted in 2014. The Commission presented the proposal and impact assessment at the first meeting of the Working Party on Public Health under the Irish Presidency on the 7th January 2013. The first discussion of the proposal took place on the 21st January 2013. I am fully supportive of the measures outlined in the proposal. My objective is to build consensus, facilitate agreement among the Member States and significantly progress the Commission’s proposal during Ireland's Presidency.