Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister indicated that whatever we decide or put through today could require an EU notification in six months. It is worth saying that we have been working on this legislation for longer than that. It was flagged very early on that the issue around flavouring and packaging was key to this legislation. I am not sure that this is a shortfall for this committee to deal with rather than the Department. I suspect that the issue of flavouring and packaging will be core to how this legislation affects children. This is my main concern. Every child I see unaccompanied on the Luas has a vape in their hand. It is rampant and is encouraging them into smoking cigarettes.

Honestly, I do not accept that we need more flavours. I cannot imagine that having cutesy cartoon vampires on the packaging, which we saw at one of the sessions, and the watermelon cherry flavour is about anything other than attracting those aged 12, 13 and 14 into using and becoming dependent on nicotine. If people in their 20s, 30s and 40s are using watermelon cherry flavour and need cartoon vampires on packaging, then I think they have bigger problems than vaping.

The value of the amendments proposed by Deputy Shortall, in particular, lies in that they are intended to put vaping on a par with cigarettes. This would ensure vapes would be treated in the same way, the packaging is clean and clear and the flavours are controlled. I just want to record that I do not think that placing the timeline of six months on this committee is proportionate or fair.