108. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timetable for publication and consideration of draft legislation to ban disposable vapes; if primary or secondary legislation is planned; and if it is intended to hold public pre-legislative scrutiny with respect to the draft legislation. [23788/24]
109. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when Ireland intends to notify the European Commission of draft legislation to ban disposable vapes in accordance with the TRIS Directive; and what form of draft legislation will be notified to the Commission. [23789/24]
110. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in relation to draft legislation to ban disposable vapes, noting the substantial, cumulative cost impact on industry as a result of the proposed new ban. [23790/24]

Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 to 110, inclusive, 110 together.

Disposable vaping devices can and should be recycled in a responsible manner however in practice they present several challenges to our current waste collection and recycling system.

While my Department’s public consultation on this matter, held last summer, found that there is a high level of support for a ban on disposable vapes, all options must be assessed to judge their effectiveness and proportionality before any legislative proposal is made.

Alignment with the Minister for Health’s policy direction in this area will be critical and our two departments are working together to ensure a response on a whole of Government basis.