Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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711. To ask the Minister for Health if, with respect to the plans in the programme for Government to make Ireland tobacco free by 2025 and the December 2015 ECJ ruling dismissing challenges to the legislation, he will provide an update on the plans to introduce plain tobacco packaging; if he will commit to not extending the wash out period for branded tobacco beyond 20 May 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13225/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 (“the 2015 Act”) was enacted in March last year.

As well as providing for the standardised packaging of tobacco products, the 2015 Act also gives effect in part to Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3rd April 2014 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products. The provisions of the 2015 Act which give effect to the Directive came into force on 20th May, 2016, as required by the Directive.

Part 5 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 seeks to amend certain sections of the 2015 Act. The legislative process for this Bill has been initiated in the Houses of the Oireachtas. However, due to the delay in the formation of the Government, the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process. I am committed to the Tobacco Free Irelandpolicy and achieving tobacco free status for Ireland to have less than 5% of the populating smoking by 2025. With this in mind, it is my intention to ensure that the standardised packaging measure is introduced as soon as possible after enactment of the Bill.