216. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health if her Department is considering a ban on the purchase of tobacco products for future generations, such as was introduced in countries such as New Zealand and the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52003/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: Tobacco is a uniquely lethal product when used exactly as intended by the manufacturer. It kills almost 100 people and causes over 1000 hospitalisations every week in Ireland. There is no age at which it becomes safe to consume tobacco.

Our national tobacco control policy, Tobacco Free Ireland, is currently being reviewed. One of the central goals will be to set out a pathway to end the epidemic of tobacco-related harm in Ireland. My officials and I are considering all measures to fulfill this objective, including a generational ban.

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 229 – Tobacco control measures [52111/26]

229. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether the conference being organised by her Department on 16 and 17 November 2026, entitled "Maximising EU Potential through Health - Securing Our Future Through Prevention, Innovation and Equity", will include any dedicated session, panel, speaker contribution or outcome document addressing tobacco control, novel nicotine products, youth vaping, or preparations for a revised Tobacco Products Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52111/26]

230. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether, during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, if she intends to seek a dedicated discussion at EPSCO Health Council, including under Any Other Business if necessary, on the need to expedite the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive; whether she has raised or intends to raise this matter directly with the European Commissioner for Health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52112/26]

231. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the plans to work with the Member States that joined Ireland in the March 2025 letter to the European Commission calling for urgent progress on EU tobacco-control legislation, including Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain, with a view to securing renewed Council-level momentum during the Irish Presidency; whether any such contacts have taken place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52113/26]

232. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings of the Working Party on Public Health that are scheduled or expected to take place during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union; whether tobacco control, novel nicotine products, youth vaping, or the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive are expected to feature on the agenda of any such meeting; and whether Ireland intends to table any Presidency paper, discussion note or draft Council conclusions on these issues. [52114/26]

234. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether she plans to facilitate exchanges between the European Commission, Council officials, Member State health attachés and public-health stakeholders, including through workshops, technical meetings or Presidency events, to support a comprehensive and expedited revision of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52116/26]

235. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether Ireland intends to seek council conclusions, a Presidency statement, or another formal Presidency output during its EU Council Presidency calling for stronger EU action on tobacco control, including action on novel nicotine products, youth vaping, cross-border marketing, flavours, packaging and online sales; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52117/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229, 230, 231, 232, 234 and 235 together.

The Irish Presidency will work to accelerate implementation of the EU Safe Hearts Plan by advancing innovations in prevention, early detection and integrated care that reduce inequalities and improve outcomes across Member States.

No Council Conclusions on Tobacco Control are expected during Ireland's Presidency, as we are waiting the publication of the Revised Tobacco Products Directive by the European Commission in late 2026.

Ireland strongly supports the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive and has previously urged the Commission to publish a proposal as soon as possible. Irish priorities for the Directive, in line with our national policy, would be strong tobacco “endgame” measures to reach the EU’s target of a smoke free generation by 2040, a ban on cross-border distance sales, and harmonised regulation of all nicotine products to reduce youth use. While Ireland is developing domestic measures in these areas, EU-level regulation would have the greatest impact.

Ireland led on an AOB for the formal meeting of the EPSCO (Health) Council of 20 June 2025, on the "continued and urgent call for action at EU level to protect young people from harm caused by novel tobacco and nicotine products, in particular e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches", which was submitted with the support of Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain.

I also discussed with the other Ministers of Health, "the impact of novel tobacco and nicotine products such as vapes and pouches on the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents", during the working lunch of the formal meeting of the EPSCO (Health) Council of 02 December 2025.

The ‘Safe Hearts’ Plan, published in December 2025, signalled that the European Commission will publish a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive in 2026. It is not expected before Q4, which is disappointing as this would have been a priority file for the Irish Presidency.

On 2 April 2026, the Commission published its Staff Working Document on the evaluation (see https://health.ec.europa.eu/tobacco/evaluation-legislative-framework-tobacco-control_en.).

The evaluation found that the EU rules on tobacco control have contributed to a significant decline in smoking and tobacco-related deaths across the EU, as well as supporting the internal market. At the same time, the evaluation highlights growing challenges linked to the rapid emergence of novel tobacco and nicotine products, particularly among young people.

On the basis of this evaluation, the Commission will now carry out an impact assessment and continue the wide-scale consultation process, in view of further policy actions Asset out in the Safe Hearts Plan, the Commission intends to propose, in 2026, a revision of the legislative framework on tobacco control.

Five provisional WPPH meetings are currently scheduled, but this is subject to change. If the Commission publishes a proposal for a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive during the Irish Presidency, Ireland will be fully committed to progressing negotiations on this proposal. Realistically, the earliest we could expect to see a legislative proposal for a revision of the tobacco legislation is mid-December 2026 – too late for the Irish Presidency.

I will be hosting the high-level Ministerial conference on Maximising EU potential through Health - Securing Our Future Through Prevention, Innovation and Equity in Dublin on 16-17 November 2026. This event is proposed as a dynamic forum that will bring Member States together to drive forward innovative, evidence-based approaches for prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Aligned with Ireland's Presidency priorities, the aim is to promote a proactive approach to population health across the EU, focusing on equitable access and innovation for preventative care. This event will convene politicians, policymakers, researchers, civil society, clinicians, patients and advocates to collaborate for a healthier, more equitable future for health and wellbeing across the EU. On Day 1 (16 November), as part of the opening programme, a fireside discussion entitled “The Commercial Determinants of Health: Tobacco and Policy Protection” will help frame the wider deliberations across the two days.

This session will examine tobacco use as a leading preventable cause of disease and mortality, and the importance of safeguarding public health policymaking from commercial and vested interests, in line with Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the evolving European policy landscape, including the forthcoming revision of the Tobacco Products Directive, and to consider how strong tobacco control and endgame measures can support the EU’s ambition of achieving a tobacco-free generation by 2040.

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 233 – Tobacco control measures [52115/26]

233. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether tobacco control, novel nicotine products, youth vaping, or preparation for a revised Tobacco Products Directive will feature in the conference being organised in Dublin from 15 to 18 September 2026, entitled "2026 Annual Conference of the European Society for Prevention Research on Innovation in Prevention to Support Health Equity"; whether her Department is involved in shaping the agenda or outcomes of that conference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52115/26]

Reply not received from Department.