Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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1460. To ask the Minister for Health the input her Department had in the preparation of the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10562/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is a member of the EU Expert Group on Tobacco Policy. The purpose of this group is to assist the Commission in the preparation of policy initiatives, to facilitate cooperation with Member States in this area and to act as a forum through which Member States' experts can be consulted on the preparation of reports, legislative proposals and delegated acts within the framework of Union legislation on tobacco.

My Department and the Health Service Executive will continue to work with the EU Commission and other Member States at this forum to facilitate the publication of a proposal for a revised Tobacco Products Directive as soon as possible.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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1461. To ask the Minister for Health if she expects her officials to be responsible for the advancement of a revised EU Tobacco Products Directive during the Irish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers in H2, 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10563/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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At this point, it is not possible to confirm whether or not officials from the Department of Health will be responsible for the advancement of a revised EU Tobacco Products Directive during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026.

The timing of any legislative proposal to revise the Tobacco Products Directive is in the European Commission’s hands. If the European Commission brings forward a proposal in 2026, then Irish officials will be responsible for progressing that file during the second half of 2026 (i.e. during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU).