Cabinet Committees
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-24
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Jennifer Whitmore (SD), Wicklow

The Irish State was a real leader when it came to the smoking ban - I know the Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, played a big part - but there are equally concerning issues in relation to other nicotine products. While work is being done on vaping, I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of nicotine pouches. I am not sure if the Taoiseach is familiar with them, but teenagers use these little pouches, which they put on their gums. They can pass ten times the amount of nicotine versus a single cigarette - they are really strong. Teenagers can use them in school because no one can spot them under their gums. They are marketed in a similar way to vapes, in really cool packaging, with flavours, and there is essentially no age restriction. They are really concerning.
We need to get ahead of these nicotine technologies. I ask the Taoiseach to look into it. The principals' association has twice requested guidance from the Department of Health on this issue, and I do not think it has been forthcoming.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-24