Reilly declares no fear of tobacco company's legal threat

The Children's Minister has made it clear he will not be buckling to pressure to stop the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes.

James Reilly was responding to a letter from one of the country's largest tobacco firms, JTI Ireland, which warned it will take legal action if he does not halt the plans.

The new legislation would remove all branding from cigarette packets in an effort to deter people from buying them.

This afternoon, Minister Reilly had this message for tobacco companies.

"I need to be temperate in my language. I'll merely say this - the Irish government will always put the health of its citizens first, and it does so in this case too, without fear or favour from any external force - be that a multinational tobacco industry or other."

Reilly's campaign has the backing of the Irish Cancer Society, which says it will save lives.