Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-07
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Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (FF), Carlow-Kilkenny

I thank everyone and understand that there are challenges. We never had the intention of ever removing the ban on disposable vapes because they are targeted at young people. As Senators have said, vapes are a blight on society and vape shops are visible in every town and village. We are very mindful of the fact that after one use vapes are put in bins or littered on streets and have no place in society. It is important for everyone to realise that the national environmental health service will report on its enforcement as it does with all tobacco-related products.
The amendment also proposes a broader review of the effectiveness of the public health laws, along with the recommendations around reducing nicotine levels in tobacco and expanding support for stop smoking services and general reduction of nicotine campaign. I have done a lot of work on that. There has been a lot of work invested through my own Department whether that is through the Quit Smoking campaign, apps and working with young people. Awareness is very important and it is information and education.
The Department has invested in that and we will continue to do more because we know that we need to. We are in complete agreement on the need for the work to happen. However, this amendment to the Bill is not necessary because - this is the good news for the Senator - we are already reviewing our national tobacco control policy, Tobacco Free Ireland, with the aim of bringing our smoking rates to lower than 5%. It is being reviewed. We are bringing in policy. I understand that there are concerns but that is happening. As we are currently at 17%, it is clear that we need to do more. We are looking at all possible measures. That includes looking at reducing barriers to access to all the different services.
The Senator spoke about enforcement. That is important. As part of this programme, 30 additional whole-time equivalent staff have been allocated to the national environmental health service. Recruitment for those posts is ongoing. We need to enforce this. I understand that. When we bring in legislation, we have to enforce it. As I have said, we are investing in 30 additional new whole-time equivalent staff. We are putting funding into this so that we can enforce the law. The Senator spoke about inspections. There were 754 inspections in 2025. This was an increase of 310 on 2024. In prosecutions, we had 38 of the 40. We are doing that.
Work is being done. I understand that we absolutely need to do more, as the Senator has said. I will work with all of the Senators here. We must all work together. This is about our young people. It about awareness, information and education. As the Senator will know, I am bringing forward a second Bill. That will be later this year. It will ban flavourings and restrict the colours on packaging. I hope to have that in quite soon. On the policies the Senator has spoken about, which are vital, I will have them ready by the end of the year. It is important that everything is reviewed and that policies are in place because we need them.
I again thank the Senator and everyone who has spoken but I do not propose to accept this amendment because the work the amendment seeks, which is needed, is already under way. It is important to have these conversations so that the Senators will know what work my Department is doing. If any Senators want any more information or if there is anything they need to know, I encourage them to contact myself or the Department. We will be absolutely delighted to fill them in on the work that is being done.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-07/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:09+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-07