Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department will be making a submission to the Department of Health’s Regulatory Impact Analysis on proposed legislation on plain packaging of tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35656/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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This matter is being considered and will ultimately be decided upon in a whole-of-Government context taking account of the full range of public policy considerations that arise. These considerations are likely to include health and other societal aspects, legal issues and economic impacts, including trading implications and public healthcare costs. In this regard the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, T.D., who is leading on this matter, has asked for a Regulatory Impact Assessment to be prepared. This Assessment will draw together the views of a range of stakeholders and interested parties as well as identifying costs and benefits of various policy options. My Department will participate in this process as appropriate. A High Level Implementation Group is being established by the Minister for Health to oversee project planning. The Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation will be participating in that Group and the enterprise /trade aspects of any proposals will be of particular interest to my Department. In this regard, I am aware that many of those in the tobacco industry are making their views known directly to the Department of Health or have done so already in the context of that Department’s public consultation processes on the EU proposal for a Directive on Tobacco Products.