1837. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if her Department has conducted an assessment of reports from the UK regarding loopholes in the law there which allow for the modifying of disposable devices by adding non-operational charging ports, or including token removable or refillable pods, and their marketing as "reusable"; and if measures will be introduced to avoid similar loopholes in the context of the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025. [19207/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: The intention of the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill is to prohibit vapes which are single-use. Vapes must be both refillable and rechargeable to avoid the prohibition. They must be refillable and rechargeable by the user in the normal course of use, and any replacements required must be separately available for purchase.

Therefore, devices with non-operational charging ports, or pods which cannot actually be refilled or replaced would be contravening the law, not exploiting a loophole. The National Environmental Health Service in the HSE will be the enforcement authority for this legislation.

I understand that there is a campaign by representatives of tobacco manufacturers on this issue. It is important that Ireland's obligation under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to protect our tobacco control policy from the interests of that industry continue to be upheld.