Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy and I have debated in this committee room many times. I find her comments utterly disingenuous and cynical. What she is doing is playing around with timing and words, which she is very good at, but ultimately what she is doing is potentially delaying a ban on the sale of vapes to children. She knows that is what she is doing. She is probably the most experienced person in the Oireachtas in this room. I find it utterly disingenuous and utterly cynical. Deputy Shortall knows it. What she is doing right now is playing politics with children's health. Yes, we got the pre-legislative scrutiny report in July, and when was this committee scheduled for? It was September, but it had to be delayed so here we are now. If we did what Deputy Shortall is voting on and what she was insisting on, what would happen is what she described earlier on: we would be back here in eight months' time with children buying vapes legally in shops; eight months of tobacco and cigarettes in vending machines; eight months of not bringing in a licensing system. Deputy Shortall can dress it up any way she wants but, ultimately, that is what she is trying to force through here today and she knows it. I find it genuinely disappointing. Deputy Shortall has a job to do. I have a job to do. But this committee generally works together when it comes to public health issues. It is deeply disappointing that Deputy Shortall has decided to play politics with something this important.