Laws requiring cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging have been passed by the Oireachtas.

A bill making the packaging mandatory for all cigarettes will now go to President Higgins to be signed this weekend.

However the President could send the bill to the Supreme Court to check if it interferes with the property rights of tobacco companies.

But minister James Reilly says he's confident the bill will pass whatever legal challenges that may be posed.

He spoke outside Leinster House today about the importance of the bill: