Question again proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Deputy Cormac Devlin: I welcome the opportunity to examine the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023. The objective of this Bill is to protect children from tobacco and nicotine inhaling products. The Bill will introduce a regulatory framework for the retail sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products by introducing a licensing system and further restrictions on the sale of these products.

Smoking remains the single leading cause of preventable ill health, disability and premature mortality in Ireland. It is estimated that more than 4,500 Irish people die from tobacco use each year. Of course, many more suffer chronic illnesses as a consequence of tobacco use. The main provisions of this Bill are to introduce a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products; prohibit the sale of nicotine inhaling products to anyone under 18 years of age; prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 18; prohibit the sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products from self-service vending machines; prohibit the sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products from temporary or mobile premises, so-called pop-up shops; prohibit the sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products at events primarily intended for children; introduce minimum suspension periods for retailers of tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products convicted of offences; introduce fixed penalty notices for offences; and provide for the naming and shaming of operators who flout the law by selling tobacco or vaping products to children.

I have been contacted by many parents concerned about the lack of regulation around vaping products. We are all aware of how vaping has spread, particularly among adolescents. Parents worry about their children starting to vape and becoming addicted to nicotine at a very young age. I share their concerns, especially around the damage that the heated gas from vaping may do to the lungs and, of course, the impact high doses of nicotine can have on young developing brains.

I welcome the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill. Fianna Fáil pushed hard to have the policy included in the programme for Government and it is great to see it finally being implemented. I thank my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and his colleagues, as well as the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and the officials for preparing the legislation and bringing it before the House today. I hope colleagues from across the House will support this positive public health policy to safeguard our children from the risks of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products.

[For the full debate, click this link to the Oireachtas website]