The current General Scheme for the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019 provides for the introduction of a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products (including electronic cigarettes). The Joint Committee on Health agreed to undertake prelegislative scrutiny of the General Scheme in 2021 and the Committee has endeavoured to scrutinise the proposed legislation and provide recommendations on areas where it believes changes or amendments are warranted. The Committee held four hearings on the General Scheme and also received submissions from interested stakeholders.

Among the recommendations contained in the report are: 

1. The legislation should be reviewed following the first year of enactment.
2. The harms associated with the consumption of e-cigarettes should be communicated to the public in a simple and effective manner, and that this should be provided for in the General Scheme of the Bill.
3. The sale of e-cigarettes to those under-18 should be restricted as provided for in the General Scheme.
4. State agencies should effectively utilise and promote the findings of the Health Research Board evidence review and proactively communicate such findings to smokers and users of e-cigarettes.
5. The Health Research Board and other state bodies should continually review scientific evidence in relation to e-cigarettes, given the speed of change and development in the nature of nicotine inhaling products.
6. That funding for state supports for those quitting cigarettes should be substantially increased. These supports should be universally available at no cost to those wishing to quit cigarettes.
7. Head 16 which includes the prohibition on the sale of tobacco products from temporary or movable premises should be extended to e-cigarettes.
8. Head 17 which will introduce restrictions on the sale of tobacco products from a counter or point of sale only should be extended to e-cigarettes.
9. Head 21 which restricts the sale of tobacco products at events or places intended for children should be extended to e-cigarettes.
10. The sale of tobacco products or nicotine-inhaling products by all persons under the age of 18 years, regardless of the nature of the family relationship to the licensee, should be prohibited.