874. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed licensing system for retailers selling vaping products and cigarettes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16667/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: The requirement for a licence to sell tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products, as set out in The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 came into effect on the 2nd of February 2026.

There are three licenses available:

1. Tobacco Products
2. Nicotine Inhaling Products
3. Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products

The licensing system is managed by the National Environmental Health Service.

This licensing system fulfils the legislative commitments made in Tobacco Free Ireland and is intended to contribute to improvement of the enforcement of tobacco control and related law as well as reflect the seriousness of the harms caused by tobacco compared to other products.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in Ireland and is responsible for 4,500 deaths here each year. Smoking related deaths are mainly due to cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and heart disease. It is the Government’s objective to eliminate tobacco use in order to address the enormous burden of disease that it continues to cause in our population.

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 924 – Departmental correspondence [16959/26]

924. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health to reply to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16959/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: The proposed Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill will introduce restrictions on the flavours and descriptors for nicotine inhaling products, by regulating the flavour names which can be used. The proposals take into consideration the population-level impact of vaping and the need for a high level of health protection for young people. The proposals include provisions to monitor the impact of any restrictions on vaping and smoking among both young people and adults. It also includes provisions to amend the list of allowed flavours as new evidence presents. These changes are also taking place in the context of significantly increased access to free, safe and effective State stop smoking support. This includes the rollout of free stop smoking medicines, more than doubling the number of clinics across the country, and expanding the peer-led "We Can Quit" group programme.