182. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the timeline for publication and introduction of the public health (tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products) (amendment) Bill; to outline the scope of measures on newer products such as nicotine pouches which the Government agreed in November 2025 to add to the Bill; the way in which the proposed measures will align with review of the EU Tobacco Products Directive and the development of a harmonised EU-wide framework for regulating novel nicotine products which Government stated would be more effective than individual Member State action. [2742/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: On the 18th of November 2025 the Government approved the addition of measures to the draft Public Heath (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill to regulate all non-medicinal nicotine products, such as pouches. These measures are a minimum legal age of sale, restrictions on point of sale display and a prohibition on advertising in retail outlets. As with tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, these provisions fall to domestic legislation. Drafting of this legislation is at a very advanced stage.

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.

In this context and representing the views of Ireland and several other Member States, I have urged the European Commission to introduce new legislation at the earliest opportunity. Furthermore, I also have advocated for the inclusion of all novel nicotine products—such as nicotine pouches—within the scope of this proposal. I have also called for a prohibition on cross-border distance sales to ensure the integrity of national regulatory measures.