Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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743. To ask the Minister for Health if he will take steps to publish immediately the findings of the regulatory impact assessment on plain packaging of tobacco products and in particular if cognisance was taken of the likely increase in the illicit trading of tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26104/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 was published last Friday, 13th June. It is my intention that the Regulatory Impact Analysis carried out in connection with the Bill will be published shortly. In relation to the Deputy’s assertion regarding illicit trade, the Revenue Commissioners have advised that the tax stamp is a key means for them to distinguish between legal and illegal products, irrespective of the way in which the cigarettes are packaged. Tax stamps will remain a fixture on tobacco products following the introduction of standardised packaging and therefore the legislation is unlikely to have a significant impact on Revenue’s work in relation to illicit trade in cigarettes.