Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I support this legislation and its intention to raise the minimum legal age of sale of tobacco products to 21 in an attempt to accelerate the decline in adult smoking prevalence.

Smoking cigarettes has been proven to cause death, ill health and disability. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland, and almost 6,000 smokers die each year from tobacco-related illnesses. Studies have shown that every week 1,000 people are hospitalised and more than 100 people die in Ireland from smoking-related diseases. As well as this, the regulatory impact analysis of this Bill cites estimated figures for the annual financial impact of smoking of €10.6 billion every year. Some €506 million of that includes hospital-based costs, primary care costs and domiciliary care costs and, therefore, not only does smoking have significant health-related harms; it also has a very negative financial impact.

Research has shown that experimentation with tobacco use before the age of 18 has been a strong predictor of daily use in adults. This is why it is important we do all we can to reduce smoking among young people. Although raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21 might not have a huge impact on those aged 18 to 20 accessing tobacco, I believe it will have a significant impact on 15- to 17-year-olds accessing tobacco because they are less likely to be in the social circles of those aged 21 and older. Research and history has shown this. A US modelling study suggests that a policy of raising the age of sale to 21 has the potential to reduce smoking rates by 25% among 15- to 17-year-olds and by 15% among 18- to 20-year-olds. In Ireland, when we raised the age of the sale of tobacco from 16 to 18 in 2007, analysis found that it reduced smoking prevalence and the likelihood of ever having tried a cigarette among 14- and 15-year-olds.

This legislation can only be seen as a positive step. I believe, however, that it is also a missed opportunity to address the increase in vaping among young people, as other speakers have mentioned. Research shows that 8% of the population currently use e-cigarettes, and this percentage is much higher for young people. Some 16% of men aged 15 to 24 use e-cigarettes, and a massive 20%, or a fifth, of women aged 15 to 24 use e-cigarettes. This is a trend we are seeing not just in Ireland or Europe but globally, so it requires a global response or, at the very least, more focused research into this trend and its effects. The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs in 2019 found that, among 15- to 16-year-olds in Ireland: "Almost four in 10 students ... had tried e-cigarettes and almost one in 5 ... were current users, making both ever-use and current use of e-cigarettes higher than use of combustible cigarettes."

The Growing Up in Ireland study showed that the rate of 13-year-olds who had tried cigarettes or tobacco fell from 9% to just 3% in ten years. As you would imagine, that is very positive but nearly 10% of 13-year-olds had tried vaping.

Emerging research indicates that the prolonged use of vapes may lead to an increased risk of heart and lung conditions. The World Health Organization states that these products are harmful to health and that it is too early to provide a clear answer on their long-term health impacts. Nicotine is highly addictive and some evidence suggests that minors who never smoked before who use e-cigarettes can double their chances of starting to smoke cigarettes later in life. Because of this, I believe e-cigarettes should be treated as seriously as tobacco cigarettes.

I supported the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023 when it came through the Dáil last year and welcomed the restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes, including the ban on sales from mobile premises and vending machines. What is the Government doing to ensure that these restrictions are being fully and properly implemented? As we know, it is festival season and many of our young people will attend concerts and festivals over the coming months. It seems that mobile premises selling e-cigarettes are still a feature at many of these venues despite the law having come into effect in December. It calls into question the effectiveness of introducing legislation if the restrictions legislated for are not being enforced. As I have said repeatedly, legislation must come with implementation. Otherwise, what is the point in legislating for anything at all? That is a problem in this House. We often view legislation as being the be-all and end-all while no enforcement actually takes place in the wider world. That is a real problem and it can be seen in the fact that mobile premises are still selling e-cigarettes at concerts around the country despite the ban. I urge the Minister to consider the necessary steps to ensure legislation is being implemented on the ground and to put such steps in place. What will have a positive effect is not passing legislation here in the House but making sure that legislation is implemented and takes effect.

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