Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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224. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the potential negative impact upon legitimate manufacturing jobs in a tobacco company in Mullingar, County Westmeath; the proposed EU tobacco laws as set forth under the European Union Tobacco Product Directive may have; if these manufacturing jobs will be protected without compromising on the EU’s efforts to reduce smoking among young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22021/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Government supports the overall objective of the proposal for the revised Tobacco Products Directive which is to reduce the numbers of people smoking. In particular the aim of the revised Directive is to reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products to young people. Approximately 700,000 people die every year in the EU from tobacco related illnesses.

Ireland, as one of the Tobacco Control leaders in the EU, supports any efforts at European level to limit the harm to health, society and to the economy caused by tobacco consumption. As Chair of the negotiations on the Directive during the Irish Presidency, we are working to progress the discussions and to build consensus among the Member States to facilitate the adoption of legislation which will ultimately reduce the number of EU citizens who die from tobacco related illnesses. These negotiations are on-going and no conclusion has been reached on the particular Article of the Directive which relates to the industry referred to in your question.