116. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health if she will consider including restrictions on nicotine pouch products in the public health (nicotine inhaling products) Bill when presented; the current regulations in place to ensure harmful and unregulated ingredients are not used in these pouches; and if she will consider proposing legislation which will prevent the free distribution of all nicotine products, pouches and otherwise, for marketing purposes. [64097/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: On the 18th of November 2025 the Government approved the addition of measures to my draft (Public Heath Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill. These measures will introduce a minimum legal age of sale, restrictions on point of sale display and a prohibition on advertising in retail outlets for all non-medicinal nicotine containing products. This additional law will be developed in early 2026.

Nicotine pouches are not currently subject to regulation under European Union tobacco control legislation. A harmonised EU-wide framework for regulating novel nicotine products would be more effective than individual Member State action, as it prevents regulatory circumvention through cross-border purchases.

On behalf of Ireland and other Member States, I have also urged the European Commission to introduce new tobacco control legislation at EU level at the earliest opportunity to include all novel nicotine products. I have also called for a prohibition on cross-border distance sales to ensure the integrity of national regulatory measures.

Nicotine pouch use remains very low within the adult population, while 17% are current tobacco smokers. Preventing smoking initiation and encouraging its cessation remain the primary focus in relation to nicotine use. Half of all smokers will eventually die from a tobacco-related illness and each week in Ireland tobacco smoking kills over 100 people and causes over 1000 hospitalisations.