1231. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health who represented Ireland at the COP10/MOP3 global anti-tobacco conferences; what agenda items were priority for the Irish delegation; what are the outcomes of the conferences that can translate into tobacco policy or legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11631/24]

Minister for Health: An official from the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Unit of the Department of Health attended the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) COP10 and FCTC Protocol MOP3.

The Delegation's priority was to monitor the latest developments in relation to novel products, while ensuring that focus was also kept on the tobacco epidemic.

Outcomes of the conferences include:

• The establishment of an Expert Group to explore forward-looking tobacco control measures which go beyond those which are currently contained in the FCTC.
• A decision on Article 18 which urges parties to take account of the environmental impacts of tobacco production.
• The re-establishment of an Expert Group on liability which will help Parties to take legal action against the tobacco industry.
• A decision on human rights which encourages Parties to consider including WHO FCTC principles and implementation efforts when engaging with the United Nations human rights mechanisms.
• The Panama Declaration which reaffirmed the “fundamental and irreconcilable conflict” between the tobacco industry and public health.