YESTERDAY’S preliminary ruling, usually a first step towards complete vindication, by the European Court of Justice, supporting Government intentions to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products is very welcome — all the more so as it seems rulings against conglomerates, intended to protect ordinary citizens, are becoming as scarce as turkey teeth. The court’s advocate general said the standardisation of labelling and packaging is a “proportionate” measure and that it challenges the “coolness” of current packaging.

Children’s Minister James Reilly addressed the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Abu Dhabi on the battle for cigarette plain packaging legislation in Ireland and Europe

A cigarette factory in the North is to close with the loss of almost 900 jobs.

Lobbying the Taoiseach to drop plans to introduce plain cigarette packs is big business, writes Political Reporter Juno McEnroe

Tobacco companies say they may mount a legal challenge to the Government decision to introduce plain packaging on tobacco products.

The three main tobacco groups in Ireland have claimed legislation proposed by Health Minister James Reilly to ban all branding on cigarettes will have no impact on smoking levels and will only increase the trade in illegal cigarettes.

The tobacco industry is to put special coding on cigarette packets in an effort to cut down on the amount of illegal tobacco smuggled into Ireland — which cost the State an estimated €240m in lost revenue last year.

Reduced income as a result of the recession and high levels of government duty on a 20-pack of cigarettes is driving tobacco smuggling, according to manufacturers.

Belfast-based Wellington IT Solutions has signed two contracts with a potential value of €1.6m over five years.

THE tobacco industry’s unprecedented visit to Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his ministers Michael Noonan and Alan Shatter would appear to have been a failure.

The Health Minister James Reilly has revealed his father and brother died from smoking-related illness as Ireland becomes only the second country to clamp down on tobacco marketing.

Ireland is set to become the second country in the world to introduce plain pack cigarettes, it emerged today.

The Taoiseach has been accused of jeopardising new EU tobacco laws by holding secret talks with industry representatives.

Officials from the departments of Finance and Jobs and Enterprise have been accused of not disclosing meetings with the tobacco industry at a time of intensive lobbying against new EU legislation.

The Government has been urged to follow Australia’s example and strip branding from cigarette packs.

Australia’s highest court upheld the world’s toughest law on tobacco promotion today, despite protests from tobacco companies fearing for the value of their trademarks under new rules that will strip all logos from cigarette packs.

Smoking has become the latest — and most deadly — fashion statement for women, as lung cancer now kills more women in Ireland than breast cancer.

Cigarette smuggling cost the Government €556m in lost taxes and duty last year, it was revealed today.