Ban on seductive cigarette packaging a bad day for big tobacco, says Reilly

Moves to ban "seductive" cigarette packaging and replace it with gruesome warnings mark a "bad day for big tobacco", Health Minister James Reilly has insisted.

The Cabinet backed Dr Reilly’s bid to make Ireland the first country in the EU to pioneer such an anti-smoking initiative.

The move bans all branding, including trademarks, logos, colours and graphics from packs. Only the name of the brand and type of produce in uniform type face will be permitted on the packages as part of a drive to end all smoking in Ireland by 2025.