Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-28
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Maria Byrne (FG), Agricultural Panel

I thank the Minister for coming to discuss this all-important issue and to bring forward the Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill 2025. I will be supporting this Bill. As the Minister outlined, it is important due to the fact that bubble gum and different flavours and colourful packaging make it attractive to young people. It is to be welcomed that it will be banned, basically. There has been a lot of pressure on young people to vape because they were being told that smoking was bad for them. However, they have turned to vaping. A lot of young people are seen vaping. This is the single-use vape. That is what you see being promoted in shops. While cigarettes are behind a blackened-out screen and can no longer be seen, vapes are still openly on sale especially in shops. There are actual vape shops selling only vapes. It is to be welcomed that a Bill is being brought forward to propose the banning of it. I understand it is difficult to ban them completely and that is why the Minister is supporting vapes that can be refilled or reused. You have to start somewhere. That is the kernel of this Bill.
I have a few questions. I assume the Department will write to small retailers, or indeed all retailers, to inform them of the "do's and don'ts" including the underage issue. A question I do not see addressed and that I would like to highlight is how somebody buying a single-use vape in another country and using it here will be handled. I realise there will be officers with authority but if it is bought in another country I am not sure that will be covered by this Bill. It is usually groups of young girls who you see actually vaping. They have the single-use ones, which look slightly smaller, more like a lighter, square and butty. I have a concern over that.
The Irish Heart Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society had a concern around whether the Bill is strong enough. Will the Minister have engagement with them? Perhaps she already has, because while they are firm supporters of what she is trying to do, they would like to have that conversation, if possible before bringing forward the next Stage. I commend the Minister on what she is doing. It is important to focus on the under-18s and the single use as the starting point and then develop it from there. I had a Private Members' Bill here about three years ago in relation to vaping and banning in stages like that. I look forward to supporting this Bill.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-28