70. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made over the past 25 years on smoking rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26671/23] 

Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health - According to SLÁN Survey 1998, 33% of respondents reported being current smokers. The 2022 Healthy Ireland Survey reported that 18% of the population are current smokers. 

Much of this progress is attributable to the tobacco control measures introduced over the past number of years. Achievements made in this area in recent decades include:

• A ban on sale of tobacco products to individuals under 18 years of age (2001) - (Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001)
• Work-place smoking ban (2004)
• Ban on the advertising of tobacco products in accordance with Directive 2003/33/EC (2004)
• A ban on packets containing less than 20 cigarettes (2007)
• A ban on the sale of confectionaries that resemble cigarettes (2007)
• A ban on the point of sale display and point of sale advertising of tobacco products (2009)
• A requirement for all tobacco products to be stored within a closed container which can only be accessed by the retailer (2009)
• A requirement for all retailers who wish to sell tobacco products to register with the National Tobacco Control Office (2009)
• A prohibition on self-service vending machines except in licensed premises or in registered clubs (2009)
• Combined text and photo warnings (graphic warnings) (2013)
• Development of National Policy Tobacco Free Ireland (2013)
• Social marketing and media campaigns, establishment of a National Smokers Quitline, social media and online cessation supports (on-going)
• Development of smoking cessation services (on-going)
• Nicotine Replacement Therapy available free to all medical card holders (ongoing)
• Increased excise duty on tobacco products (on-going)
• A ban on smoking in cars where children are present. (2016)
• Adoption and transposition of the EU Tobacco products Directive (2016).
• Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products (2017)
• Publication of National Clinical Guideline on Stop Smoking. (2022)
• Removal of VAT from all forms of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (2022)

The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill is expected to be enacted this year. The Bill will:

• Introduce a strict licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products.
• Introduce new restrictions on the sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products and further restrictions on the advertising of nicotine inhaling products.
• Provide additional enforcement powers to the Environmental Health Service for the new measures in the Bill and for all previous Tobacco Control Acts.