The European Commission has made "no negative comment" on Ireland's legislation to introduce plain packaging on cigarette packets, Minister for Children James Reilly has told the Dáil.

He said he had received a phone call yesterday from Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy Tonio Borg.

Dr Reilly said plain packaging legislation would face technical objections from some EU members, but Mr Borg told him “the Commission has made no negative comment on the Bill”.

In the wake of pressure from other EU member states and from US politicians, Dr Reilly said it was important that people understood the Commission’s position.

But Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan said that in her Dublin Central constituency the sale of illegal cigarettes was a major and growing concern.

The TDs were speaking during a debate on legislation to ban smoking in cars and other vehicles in which children under 18 are travelling.

The Protection of Children’s Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Bill was introduced in the Seanad by Independent Senators John Crown and Jillian van Turnhout, and Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly.

Dr Reilly said in children, “exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke is a recognised risk factor for the development of asthmatic symptoms and increased the risk of other illnesses”.

Such exposure was particularly harmful in enclosed spaces such as cars, and children were “unable to remove themselves from risk if people smoke around them”.