Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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605. To ask the Minister for Health his views on tobacco starter packs which contain tobacco, cigarette papers and filters, which are particularly attractive to young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46826/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland with at least 5,200 people dying every year from tobacco related diseases. Tobacco Free Irelandsets a target for Ireland to be tobacco free by 2025. In practice, this will mean a smoking prevalence rate of less than 5%. The two key themes underpinning the policy are protecting children and the denormalisation of smoking. While the number of people smoking in Ireland has significantly reduced, particularly among young people, it is important that we continue to implement Tobacco free Irelandto reduce these numbers further. One of the recommendations in Tobacco Free Ireland is the introduction of standardised packaging for tobacco products. This legislation have now been enacted and tobacco products produced after 20th May 2016 will have to comply with the provisions of the legislation. The legislation will prohibit the insertion or affixing of any item to the tobacco pack other than items allowed for by law. This would mean that in the near future the packs, as described by the Deputy, will not be available for retail sale.The Standardised Packaging legislation together with the new EU Tobacco Products Directive will go a long way to ensuring that tobacco products are much less appealing to consumers and in particular young people.