Plain cigarette packaging discourages people from smoking, new research from Australia has shown.

Australia introduced plain cigarette packaging with graphic health warnings just over six months ago - it was the first country in the world to do so.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, showed that compared to smokers who were still using branded packets when the research was carried out, plain pack smokers were 66% more likely to believe the cigarettes they were using were poorer quality than one year ago.

The plain pack smokers were also 81% more likely to have thought about giving up cigarettes at least once a day during the previous week and to believe that quitting was a higher priority in their lives than those using branded packs.

The plain pack cohort in the study also were 70% more likely to say they found cigarettes less satisfying than previously.

Health Minister James Reilly welcomed the publication of the study. He said his Department was now working on legislation to introduce plain cigarette packaging and Heads of Bill would be brought to cabinet in the next Dail term.

Ireland will be the second country worldwide to introduce plain cigarette packaging. Graphic images on cigarette packs of the health effects of smoking were already introduced here earlier this year.