Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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671. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the World Health Organization Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products of 12 November 2012 has not been signed; the necessary legislative or administrative measures required to implement the protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4427/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is applying the standard approach to the ratification of international agreements to the Protocol on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in that it is seeking to ensure that all the necessary domestic legislation has been effected before it proceeds to ratification. This approach is to ensure that Ireland can fulfil all of its obligations under the agreement upon its entry into force for Ireland.

A licensing system for tobacco retailers is an outstanding requirement of the Protocol. This will be introduced through the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill which has been prioritised for drafting.