Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to examine the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024. I thank and acknowledge the work of the Minister and his officials in preparing and pursuing this important legislation, which will increase the legal age for the sale of tobacco products to 21. As we have heard, the objective of the Bill is to protect young people from becoming addicted to tobacco. Smoking remains the single leading cause of preventable ill-health, disability and premature mortality in Ireland. Current estimates are that 4,500 people in Ireland die from tobacco use each year.

It is the cause of 13% of all cancers and an enormous range of other illnesses and conditions. Tobacco products are linked to at least 16 types of cancer; multiple respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD; cardiovascular disease; and peripheral artery disease, which can lead to gangrene, stroke, diabetes and dementia.

This measure is being introduced to accelerate the decline in adult smoking prevalence, which has plateaued at 18% for several years. It is also among a series of other measures designed to reduce smoking prevalence among children to zero. I welcome the Minister's stated objective, to assist young people to avoid a lifetime of addiction and illness from tobacco smoking. The modelling shows, and it is clear, that this measure will not only protect the targeted age group as outlined but will also protect those under 18 as they are less likely to be in a social group with 21-year-olds who can legally purchase cigarettes.

As with the smoking in the workplace ban introduced by the then Minister for Health, Deputy Micheál Martin, in 2004, in which Ireland was a world leader, Ireland will also be the first EU country to introduce this measure. I welcome the practical elements of the Bill, including the phased implementation for those who are already entitled to be sold tobacco products. Persons who are over 18 but under 21 will not be affected. However, I would welcome more funding for public health initiatives to help these people to quit smoking. There has been a noticeable increasing in quit-smoking campaigns online and through other advertising, which is welcome.

I notice the comments from the Opposition about the Bill and the questioning about vapes. Let us not forget the legislation on e-cigarettes that was passed in this House in December last year. Yes, there is more to do, as the Minister has stated previously in this Chamber and at committee meetings, but there is legislation which the Opposition has acknowledged. Speaking of the 2004 smoking ban, let us put into context what was said by the Opposition today. There was talk about outright bans for cigarettes and having a debate on but not supporting such legislation. Back in 2004, would the then Opposition say now that they do not support the smoking ban?

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