2305. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health the restrictions she is considering to ensure young people are not vaping. [77756/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: Significant legislation has been enacted to reduce young people's use of vapes and nicotine products. The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 introduced domestic regulation of nicotine inhaling products such as vapes, including:

A minimum age of sale of 18.

• Further advertising restrictions in cinemas, on public transport and near schools.
• A prohibition on the sale of nicotine inhaling products by self-service, at events aimed at children, and from temporary or moveable premises such as those at festivals.

A significant provision in the Act was the licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products, which became operational for all retailers on 2 August 2026. Previously, there was a once-off registration system for tobacco retailers, and no register for retailers of nicotine inhaling products.

Those who wish to sell these products must now apply for a licence, pay the required fee and renew that licence annually. The licensing system will give the Health Service Executive's (HSE's) National Environmental Health Service robust oversight of who is selling nicotine inhaling products. The legislation allows for increased penalties for offences such as selling to minors, including minimum suspension periods and licence revocation.

This year, the Government has taken further steps to reduce the appeal and accessibility of vapes and nicotine products to young people in Ireland. The Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Act 2026 bans the sale of single-use or "disposable" vapes, in recognition of the dual health and environmental impact of these products. The ban will come into effect on 24 January 2027. The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Act 2026 was also signed into law in October.

The Act will introduce a range of measures, including:

• Prohibiting the sale of nicotine consumption products such as nicotine pouches to people under 18.
• Prohibiting the advertising of nicotine inhaling products and nicotine consumption products in retail outlets, as well as their point-of-sale displays for these products in mixed retail outlets.
• Restricting colours and imagery used on nicotine inhaling products and their packaging.
• Prohibiting the sale of devices resembling or functioning as other products, such as toys or games.
• Prohibiting flavour names for nicotine inhaling products other than "Tobacco" and "Unflavoured", with powers to amend this list by regulation.

Finally, our national tobacco control policy, Tobacco Free Ireland, is currently being updated. It will set out a pathway to end the epidemic of tobacco-related harm in Ireland and to continue to strengthen the protection of young people from nicotine.