Ms Averil Power:

The Senator asked why is vaping so popular. Part of it must be the relentless marketing. We are bombarded with images of vaping left, right and centre.

Point-of-sale marketing is particularly effective. It is also worth pointing out that vaping products are much more accessible than NRT products, as was mentioned earlier. For people to get NRT products on a medical card, they must get a prescription from their GP and collect the products from a pharmacy, whereas they can go into a petrol station forecourt shop, a newsagents and up to a kiosk in a shopping centre or at a festival and get vaping products that are openly available. We welcome that the proposed Bill will bring in a licensing regime to deal with at least some of that.

Marketing and accessibility have an impact. Price is another element. As stated earlier, vaping products are much cheaper than the tried and tested, safer and more effective NRT alternatives. All of that has helped, as has the lack of Government investment in proper cessation methods. As was mentioned earlier, Government investment in cessation medications, which is primarily aimed at those on medical cards, fell by 12% between 2010 and 2019. Smokers are not being given realistic alternatives and practical supports. That is also part of the problem. I will let the representatives from the Irish Heart Foundation answer the question about the age at which cigarettes can be sold to people.