Tobacco Control Measures
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-06
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Robbie Gallagher (FF), Labour Panel

I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response. I fully agree with her about the ills of smoking and we can add vapes to that. We are all trying to do what we can to limit, where possible, the use of these products. That said, I still feel strongly that small outlets, small convenience stores and small off-licences in many of our rural towns and villages are disproportionately affected by this legislation, which came in three years ago. Although I believe it went through both Houses, the fee amount was not mentioned at that point in time. We are where we are but I feel a more tapered approach that depends on sales would be a fairer way of doing it. Many small shops and petrol stations around the country would not make €1,000 selling cigarettes in ten years, never mind in one year. I think the fee is excessive in that regard. A more tapered approach based on turnover might have been a fairer way of doing it. Notwithstanding all the Minister of State has said about the ills of smoking, which I fully agree with, I feel that the small retailers are disproportionately affected by this legislation.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-06/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:54+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-06