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Children's Minister James Reilly congratulates Australian Government over its success in legal case with Big Tobacco Companies

Comment by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly TD. on the success of the Australian Government in a legal dispute with Tobacco companies on the issue of plain packaging of tobacco products

"I applaud the leadership shown by the Australian Government in being the first country in the world to introduce plain packaging. I admire their courage in standing up to the tobacco industry again and again in legal challenges. Today is a great day for the future health of Australian children. I am pleased to say that the Irish government is equally committed to standing up to the tobacco industry. A key benefit of the introduction of plain packaging is to try and prevent children from taking up this killer habit in the first place. We will never put the profits of the tobacco industry ahead of the future health of our children".

See more on background with this link to the website of the Australian Government

https://www.ag.gov.au/tobaccoplainpackaging

See news of the Australian government 'win' with these news stories

Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/business/health-pharma/australia-wins-court-challenge-to-tobacco-plain-packaging-1.2471271

Sydney Morning Hearld http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australian-government-wins-plain-packaging-case-against-philip-morris-20151218-glqo8s.html