493. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the level of participation that Irish officials had in the recent Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59871/21]

Minister for Health: The 9th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control took place virtually from 8 to 12 November 2021.

As with previous COPs, a common EU position on the various agenda items was developed in advance of the meeting. Officials from the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Unit in my Department participated in EU meetings to develop these positions during September and October, and attended the conference from 8 to 12 November.