Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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780. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department or the Government has received any communication on the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 from the European Commission under the EU 98/34 notification procedure or through other channels; if he will detail the contents of these communications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32983/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Government approved the publication of the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 on 10^thJune 2014 and the presentation of the Bill in the Seanad. The Bill was initiated in the Seanad on the 19^thJune and completed Committee and Report Stage on the 24^thJune. The Bill commenced Second Stage in the Dáil on 2^ndJuly 2014.

On 17^thJune, formal notification of the publication of the Bill was made to the Commission and to Member States under the EU Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) and the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU). Four detailed opinions on the Bill have been received from Portugal, Bulgaria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. To date, comments or opinions have not been received from the EU Commission.