Plain tobacco packets ‘will hurt recovery’

Enda Kenny is facing pressure from German politicians, businesses and campaigners to scrap plain packaging tobacco proposals, with one group warning the plan could threaten Ireland’s financial recovery.

Mr Kenny has received a letter signed by 27 MEPs with “concerns” about the plans. A European taxpayers group has also told him the plans could pose “threats to the Irish economy”, documents obtained by the Irish Examiner reveal.

All of the MEPs are in the European People’s Party, a centre-right group in the European Parliament that includes Fine Gael.