Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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345. To ask the Minister for Health his views on complaints from nine member states regarding the plain packaging Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44049/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 was formally notified to the Commission and to Member States under the EU Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) and the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) on 17 June 2014. The Commission and Member States had until 18 September to comment or provide detailed opinions on the proposed measures. As the Deputy has noted, detailed opinions on the proposed measures have been received from a number of Member States - initially nine, but one opinion has since been formally withdrawn. Once detailed opinions were received the standstill period on the legislation has increased by three months, i.e. until 18 December 2014. Officials in my Department are currently drafting a response to the detailed opinions.