More than two out of three Irish people support new legislation to remove all branding marks from cigarette packs, according to a new survey.

The Government is planning to introduce a new law which will provide for the insertion of large graphic warnings on packs of the fatal consequences of smoking and which will make it illegal for tobacco firms to use colour, text and packet size to market cigarettes.

The study, carried out for a number of health and children's rights charities shows that while plain cigarette packaging has the backing of 74% of non-smokers, a majority of smokers are also in favour, with 58% supporting the legislation which is due to come into force next year.

"The poll shows that the Irish people are strongly behind the Government commitment to protect the health of children by introducing the plain packs that previous research proves will discourage children from smoking," said Irish Heart Foundation head of advocacy, Chris Macey.

The Foundation is one of a number of organisations along with Barnados and the Children's Rights Alliance, who organised the poll.

Health Minister James Reilly introduced the legislation providing for plain packaging at the Oireachtas Health Committee yesterday.