66. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he can give a report on the recent WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade meeting of November 2023 and matters regarding Ireland's law requiring health warnings on alcohol products on, or before, May 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53925/23]. 

Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment: As the Deputy may be aware, under the EU Treaties, Ireland is represented by the European Commission at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), including the recent Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee Meeting. In respect of the specific issue of Ireland’s law requiring health warnings on alcohol products Ireland’s national position is communicated to the EU Commission through our representatives to the WTO in Geneva. 

The health labelling regulation was discussed at the last meeting of the TBT Committee on the 8 November 2023 and the public-health basis for the proposal was put forward by the European Commission which has competence in EU trade policy matters. It should be noted that while Ireland representatives attend the meetings formally it is the Commission that represents EU Member States interests. 

The issue remains before the TBT Committee and may be further discussed at the next sitting of the Committee in the first quarter of 2024. It should also be noted that as a matter of public health policy, responsibility for this initiative rests with the Department of Health.