511. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of vape retail outlets operating in the State in each year since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40861/26]

512. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department maintains a national register or database of vape retail outlets operating within the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40862/26]

513. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if a public health assessment has been undertaken regarding the concentration or proliferation of vape and smoke retail outlets in Irish cities, towns and villages over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40863/26]

516. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to introducing a national licensing system for vape and smoke retail outlets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40866/26]

722. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of retail premises licensed or registered to sell vaping products in Ireland as of the most recent data available; whether her Department has assessed the density of such premises relative to schools and youth facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41303/26]

Minister for Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 511, 512, 513, 516 and 722 together.

The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 introduced a suite of measures to tackle the rise in youth vaping including the introduction of a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products such as vapes. Previously, there was a once-off registration system for tobacco retailers, and no register for retailers of nicotine inhaling products.

The licensing system came into operation on the 2nd of February 2026, and businesses which were already selling nicotine inhaling products have 6 months to apply for a licence. It will give the HSE's National Environmental Health Service robust oversight of who is selling nicotine inhaling products. Those who wish to sell these products will have to apply for a licence, pay the required fee and renew that licence annually. The legislation allows for increased penalties for offences such as selling to minors, including revocation of a licence. In addition, licences will not be granted to temporary or moveable premises such as those at festivals, and the sale of these products at events aimed at children is also prohibited.

____________________________________

Dáil Éireann debate. Questions 514, 517, 724 - Tobacco control measures [40864/26, 40867/26, 41305/26].

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-05-28/514/

514. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if an assessment has been undertaken regarding youth exposure to nicotine-related advertising, branding or retail visibility arising from the increasing number of vape and smoke retail outlets operating in town and city centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40864/26]

517. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if a review has been undertaken regarding the environmental and public health impact associated with disposable vaping products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40867/26]

724. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department intends to introduce further restrictions on the advertising, display, or flavouring of vaping products in retail premises; the timeline for any such measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41305/26]

Minister for Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514, 517 and 724 together.

A Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) was conducted in 2024 to inform the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025. The purpose of the RIA is to describe the policy context and objectives, before identifying possible ways to achieve the objectives and the impacts of such responses. The RIA assessed the impact of nicotine inhaling product retail display and advertising, packaging and appearance and flavours, as well as single-use vapes.

The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill will prohibit the sale of single-use vapes. It has completed all stages in Dáil Eireann and Second Stage in Seanad Eireann.

The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill has been notified under two separate European Union (EU) Directives. These notification procedures must be completed before the legislation can be enacted.

The Bill was notified under Article 24(3) of the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) on 15 December 2025. By 15 June, the European Commission will issue an Implementing Decision to either approve or reject the legislation.

The Bill was also notified under the Technical Standards or TRIS Directive ((EU) 2015/1535). This is not an approval procedure, but a process for Member States and the Commission to make comments on the draft legislation. The standstill period for this TRIS procedure will end on 19 June 2026.

The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill will introduce further regulation of nicotine inhaling products in terms of flavours, packaging and appearance, and retail display and advertising. It will also introduce domestic regulation for all other current and future non-medicinal nicotine consumption products, in the form of a minimum age of sale of 18 and retail display and advertising restrictions. This Bill has completed Committee Stage in Dáil Eireann.

The draft legislation was also notified at EU level under the TRIS Directive on 2 April 2026. This incurs a standstill period of 3 months, with a further 3 month extension if the EU Commission or Member States issue a Detailed Opinion regarding the legislation. This notification procedure must be completed before the legislation can be enacted.

_________________________________________

Dáil Éireann debate. Questions 515, 723 - Tobacco control measures [Vape sales] [40865/26, 41304/26].

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-05-28/515/

515. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of inspections, compliance checks, enforcement actions, fixed penalty notices and prosecutions relating to the sale of vaping or nicotine products to minors in each year since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40865/26]

723. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of inspections carried out by the Environmental Health Service on vape shops and retailers selling vaping products in 2024, in 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of compliance notices or enforcement actions that resulted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41304/26]

Minister for Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 723 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.