777. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the rationale for ignoring the public opinion expressed in the public consultation, conducted by his Department, on increasing the minimum legal purchase age for tobacco to 21; to share any regulatory impact assessment carried out on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42967/24]

778. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he has accepted the findings from his Department's own consultation report that 65.3% of the public do not want to increase the legal age for tobacco sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42968/24]

Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 777 and 778 together.

All responses received by participants who took part in the Public Consultation on the Further Regulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products were taken into consideration. Responses on raising the age of sale for tobacco may have been influenced by proposals in other jurisdictions for lifetime bans and by views on the regulation of nicotine inhaling products. I am also aware that there was some evidence of coordinated campaigns around my consultation. Consultation processes do not provide representative samples of public opinion; instead, they seek information, comments and views on the consultation questions from interested stakeholders. The nature of consultation exercises means that respondents are self-selecting and cannot therefore be considered to be a representative sample of public opinion. In contrast, the Irish Heart Foundation’s November 2021 poll found that 73% of all adults and 71% of those aged 18-24 supported raising the legal age to purchase tobacco in Ireland to 21. Similarly, a 2022 IPSOS MRBI poll carried out on behalf of the HSE found that 71% agreed that the Government should raise the legal age of purchasing tobacco products to 21 years and older. Aside from strong support from the general public, the primary rationale for this legislation is that each year tobacco products kill 4,500 people here and cause an enormous range of illnesses including, but not limited to; at least 16 types of cancer; multiple respiratory diseases including COPD which leads to airflow obstruction that is irreversible; cardiovascular diseases including aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease which can lead to gangrene and stroke; diabetes; rheumatoid arthritis and dementia. The regulatory impact assessment for the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2024 can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/5df1e7-tobacco-free-ireland/

Question No. 778 answered with Question No. 777.