574. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the consultation process which is planned to begin on 7 November 2023 in respect of the new Tobacco Products Bill, as announced by him on 12 October 2023 at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49820/23]

Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health: The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will introduce a suite of measures to reduce the appeal and availability of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products to young people. The Bill will prohibit the sale of nicotine inhaling products to those under 18, and establish a comprehensive licensing system for the sale of both tobacco and nicotine inhaling products.

The Bill passed all stages in the Dáil on the 8th November.

I am already in the process of developing further legislation on nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes. A public consultation to inform this legislation will be published shortly. I had intended that the consultation would issue this week but my colleague, the Minister for Finance, wishes to seek the views of the public on the introduction of a domestic tax on e-cigarettes so we will work together and examine both issues in a single consultation.

We know from successful actions taken on smoking and alcohol consumption that the regulation of any public health matter is complex and relies on multiple evidence-based interventions in order to have a successful impact. It makes sense that we should co-ordinate our work on vaping and I look forward to the results of the consultation to inform the legislation that I will bring and to inform the Minister for Finance in relation to the options for the taxation of these products.