Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the tightening of the legislation but we do need to see it. We need to see it implemented. Everybody has a concern about vaping, particularly among young people. Adults have a choice and free will, and if their vaping is part of smoking cessation I absolutely welcome it and believe it to be important; however, as we have already heard, the manner in which vapes are marketed and sold is an issue. I have noted flavours other than those mentioned, including cherry cola and Skittles. If these are not directed at children, I do not know what is.

Unfortunately, there are very few inspections happening. A report produced by The Journal states 3,500 vapes have been seized from shops by the HSE for breaching regulations since the start of 2024. That is an absolute drop in the ocean. It probably reflects the sales of one shop in a week, given the number of sales at the moment. Unfortunately, we need regulation. When you read in the report what is in the vapes, it is really shocking. One vape claimed to be nicotine free was found to contain nicotine. In this regard, we talk about HHC. It is really worrying that young people are getting their hands on these vapes. To be honest, nobody knows what is in them or their long-term effects. There is no doubt but that the packaging, colours and flavours of vapes are designed to target young people. There is absolutely no doubt about it because we see them. Anybody who walks will see children in school uniforms vaping. To me, that is deeply worrying.

In 2013, the Government said the target for smoking cessation was to reduce the proportion of smokers to 5%.

Unfortunately, in 2024, which was when the most recent report was compiled, and Deputy Graves talked about a figure of 18%, the rate was 17%. That neatly correlates with the time we saw a surge in vapes. The question we need to ask is whether these vapes are really contributing to a reduction in smoking or is it that we are just creating a new generation of people who are being enticed into it?

As I said, when it comes to adults, they can make the choice. If it is their choice, vapes have a place in smoking cessation, but we do not need to have them in such flavours and in packaging that is encouraging others. We need one other thing, similar to cigarettes. Any number of times you walk into a shop, you will see a counter of cigarettes at the back. There will be no advertisement, the person will take your money, press a button and the cigarettes will come out, yet right in front of you, where the sweets are, you will see vapes. They are right where the sweets are. Again, if that is not targeted at children, then I do not know what is. We need new legislation but we also need inspections. We need the HSE to clamp down on these.

The other part of it is the HSE does not have any vaping cessation programmes. None. There is no funding and there is no capacity within the HSE. Somebody who is addicted to nicotine through vapes has nowhere to go and has no supports. At the moment, the HSE has no funding for that. I encourage the Minister of State to look specifically at vaping. We are talking about young people in particular, but there are also older people who want to get off nicotine. They may have successfully weaned themselves off cigarettes but they are still addicted to nicotine through vapes. Let us give them the support to be able to come off those products as well.

I will raise a matter that is very worrying. I see this because lobbies from tobacco companies come in regarding some of this legislation. They are using vapes as a product alongside cigarettes. They are looking at a reduction in the number of people smoking and are seeing this new product as a way of keeping in business. I really worry about that. These are very powerful, strong and profitable companies. It is something we need to keep an eye on.

See this speech in context