An Leas-Chathaoirleach: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O’Connor and her officials.
Sections 1 to 20, inclusive, agreed to.

NEW SECTION
Senator Joanne Collins: I move amendment No. 1:

In page 16, after line 20, to insert the following:

“Review of Act and of smoking cessation supports

21.(1) The Minister shall, within 18 months of the passing of this Act, conduct a review, to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 24 months of the passing of this Act, to—

(a) examine the operation and effectiveness of this Act,

(b) examine more broadly the effectiveness of public health laws and cessation supports relating to tobacco and nicotine products, and

(c) recommend measures for achieving reductions in the nicotine content of tobacco products, expanded smoking cessation supports, and further encourage a reduction in smoking rates.”.

This amendment is an effort to gauge the public's reaction to the Bill, examine if banning single-use vapes actually changes anything, including whether it is having an impact on people taking up smoking or vaping, and investigates smoking cessation. Let us see what is out there and whether there are any new products or if we can be more active rather than consistently reactive to nicotine or smoking cessation. We should look to see what products are out there and whether we can make them more accessible to individuals who want to give up smoking.

I do not have a problem banning single-use vapes and nor does my party. I am a vaper and I think single-use vapes are the most expensive way to go. You might as well go back smoking with their cost. If you are going to vape like a smoker does, you will use one single-use vape every single day. I think it is a good thing to ban them whether because of the littering we see everywhere or their incorrect disposal.

I do not think this Bill will have the effect the Department hopes for. Single-use vapes will be imported. If someone wants to use a single-use vape, they will find a way around this. I do not think it is something you can mitigate against here today. Vaping is a part of our culture now.

The next Bill coming will look at flavours. Again, I do not think that will sort anything. I have been told that if I want flavours after the new Bill comes in, there will be no problem getting them - they can be got. We need to look at the reasons people are vaping and coming off cigarettes, but we also need to look at making this ban more acceptable to people. The Bill is looking at banning single-use vapes. People are asking me why there was never anything done about cigarettes bar changing the packaging. It took until December 2023 to say that vapes were illegal for sale to under-18s. It completely blew my mind. I thought it was a given that under-18s could not buy them because there was nicotine in them.

[Click here to view the full debate on the Oireachtas website]