261 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children if she plans to develop a new tobacco control strategy with specific targets to reduce prevalence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3932/11]

The Department is currently carrying out a review of tobacco policy in Ireland. In this regard a Workshop was held in June 2010, attended by the key stakeholders involved in smoking policy, to discuss how to reduce smoking rates in the Irish population. Following the workshop the Department established a Group comprising of the Department, the Health Service Executive and the Office of Tobacco Control to consider the outcome of the Workshop and to formulate proposals on what further measures might be taken to reduce initiation and prevalence of smoking in Ireland. The work of this Group is continuing.