Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This Bill aims to ensure the tobacco industry is prevented from monopolising the market in tobacco and nicotine inhaling products. It will promote public health, public safety and consumer welfare. We welcome the Bill. It would have been more beneficial to have introduced it a number of years ago. However, as the saying goes, we are where we are. By introducing stricter regulations on the sale, advertising and marketing of these products, it will restrict access to hazardous substances. I recently heard a consultant say the people using vaping devices are taking part in an experiment. In effect, vapers are guinea pigs because we do not yet know the effects of vaping. That has to be a concern and should be borne in mind.

As Deputy Ward said, legislation is not enough. Public awareness and education must run in parallel in response to these issues in order that people can make an informed decision regarding their health. By educating people on the dangers of using tobacco and nicotine, they can be encouraged to make healthier decisions and receive support if they fall victim to addiction. To support a healthier lifestyle for citizens, we must acknowledge and address the underlying problems and work towards an effective strategy.

Additionally, the Bill acknowledges that new vaping devices and e-cigarettes are being introduced. These products will have to meet strict regulation requirements, including restricted-selling labelling and safety requirements. That is really important. The way the products look, including their colours, brightness and glitz, is a huge attraction to everyone, not just young people. Some vape products are marketed in ways that attract non-smokers. It may not be politically correct to say it but I have noticed that the number of young women who did not previously smoke but are now using these flavoured vape products seems to be increasing. It is hard to understand what the attraction is other than the good marketing associated with the products and the fact there is some addictive element to them. Young people especially seem to be attracted to vape devices such as those produced by Elf Bar. Many of the products are disposable, which means there are environmental consequences as well.

One factor contributing to their attractiveness is the availability of enticing but misleading flavours such as birthday cake and cotton candy. As someone with a sweet tooth, such flavours would attract me. That practice absolutely must be stopped. The products are designed to copy enjoyable flavours and thereby release endorphins and all of that. Many people feel better when they have chocolate. I certainly do. People using these vaping devices feel the same. It is satisfying and the flavour is nice. Through mechanisms such as appealing to taste, the vape companies take advantage of young people by enticing them to buy their products. With stricter marketing regulations, we can diminish the influence of the tobacco and vape industry. There have been studies discussing the gateway effect of e-cigarettes in leading users to smoking, with the use of flavoured vape products eventually leading to tobacco addiction. By banning flavoured products, we can prevent the transition to tobacco use and in that way protect public health. The ongoing availability of tobacco products to new generations will always be synonymous with further deterioration of public health. Regulation provides a viable means of ensuring the protection of our communities.

It is a long time since I was a young person. Therefore, I met with a group of young people to discuss this issue and find out what they think. They made a few points I thought were worth hearing. They pointed out that it is the responsibility of Oireachtas Members to step in and provide safeguards. It is their view that banning underage vaping promotes a healthier lifestyle and reduces the burden on the healthcare system. They pointed out the easy accessibility of vaping products and that enticing marketing leads to increased usage by teenagers. In their view, banning the sale of vaping products to people aged under 18 is essential. Under-18s, they noted, are a particularly vulnerable cohort as they fall much more easily into forming habits. They pointed out that under-18s are in a critical development period and are vulnerable to influence and addiction. Targeting prevention measures at under-18s can prevent habit formation and reduce the chance of further addiction. The young people feel this House has a responsibility to acknowledge the vulnerability of youth. Research they undertook showed the likelihood of developing a long-term addiction increases when individuals use tobacco during their adolescence.

This Bill is welcome and essential. We can no longer allow vapers, including young people, to be guinea pigs for the large vaping and tobacco industry.

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