'Revenge of the tobacco industry': New law to ban single-use vapes at 'advanced stage'
Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor has told the Dáil that work on the legislation is being prioritised
The Government has issued an update on its plans to ban single-use disposable vapes.
The possibility of banning disposable vapes was first floated by the Department of Health in 2023. The following year, Cabinet approved draft laws tabled by the then Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly.
However, the Government has yet to bring the Bill before the Oireachtas for approval.
Speaking during a debate on the use of tobacco products by young people yesterday, Minister of State Jennifer Murnane O’Connor issued an update on the progress of the Bill.
She cited figures stating that 32% of 15 and 16-year-olds have tried vapes, with 16% being current users.
Minister Murnane O’Connor said: “These numbers are unacceptable and one of my priorities, as the Minister of State with responsibility for public health, is to take whatever action we can to bring them down to zero.
“The Government is determined to tackle this issue. We do not want our children using nicotine.”
She went on to say that disposable vapes were specifically marketed towards children, describing them as “the revenge of the tobacco industry”.
Minister Murnane O’Connor continued: “The Public Health (single-use vapes) Bill will ban the sale of all single-use or disposable vapes.
“That Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting and is prioritised for publication in this term.
“The removal of these low-price products should reduce their availability for our children, as well as addressing the huge environmental issue caused by their disposal.”
The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 introduced a range of measures including a ban on the sale of nicotine vapes to under-18s.
The Act also banned the advertising of vape products in cinemas, in or within 200 metres of a school, on public transport and in taxis.
These measures were designed to further limit children's exposure to messages normalising the use of vapes and to support the ban on their sale to under-18s.
From next week, vapes will no longer be sold out of vending machines.