332. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the current legal position on the sale of cigarettes in packets greater than 20, such as 25, which are available at a price of just 10% more than 20; his plans to standardise quantities permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16789/15] 

Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 38 (1) of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 to 2013 it is an offence for a person to sell cigarettes by retail in packets of less than twenty cigarettes. This provision was introduced as a method of maintaining a high price level for tobacco products in order to make them less accessible to children. The majority of smokers become addicted in their childhood and teenage years and research has clearly shown that price is an important factor in young people deciding not to smoke. By increasing the minimum number of units which may be bought, the price barrier is raised higher for children at the experimental stage. The maintenance of a high level of prices for tobacco products is an important factor in preventing people, particularly children, from experimenting with tobacco.

There is currently no provision in legislation setting a maximum amount of cigarettes which may be sold per packet. However, the Public Health (Tobacco)(Amendment) Act 2013 introduced section 38 (10A), which prohibits certain types of sales promotions, including the sale or promotion of any tobacco product at a reduced price or free of charge.