474. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health for an update on the plain packaging Bill; if there are serious legal issues in respect of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36330/15]

Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act, 2015 was enacted on 10 March 2015. The Act currently provides for a number of elements to be prescribed by the Minister by way of regulations. While developing these regulations a number of other necessary and practical matters were identified as being required, some of which are in the interests of consumer information.

These other matters include inter alia, text in a prescribed form to indicate the type and weight or number of tobacco products contained in the packet, the inclusion of a tab to allow consumers to reseal the pack and the inclusion of a calibration mark which may be necessary for the automated production of the packaging.

Amendments will be made to the 2015 Act to provide for regulation making powers for these matters. It is proposed that these technical amendments will be included in the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) No.2 Bill.