Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Government’s proposals to protect young people from the harms of vaping and nicotine addiction. As the party that delivered the first workplace smoking ban in the world, Fianna Fáil knows that smart, proportionate regulation saves lives. We have already raised the age of sale to 18 and tightened advertising near schools, on public transport and in cinemas. Now we must go further because the evidence is clear. Brightly coloured devices, confectionery flavours and cheap disposables are hooking a new generation on nicotine. The package before us does exactly what parents, teachers and clinicians have asked for. First, it involves a complete ban on single-use, disposable vapes. These products drive youth uptake and create a toxic waste stream of plastics and lithium batteries. It also involves a crackdown on child appeal. It involves standardised packaging and sensible limits on colours and imagery for devices - no toys, games or novelty shapes and a clear simple approach to flavours with basic descriptors only. Point-of-sale display and advertising will be removed from general retail in line with what we know works for tobacco. Specialist shops will be able to serve adult consumers, including smokers trying to quit. That balance matters. This builds on measures already enacted, including a licensing system for retailers from early 2026, a ban on vending machine sales and pop-up premises and serious investment by the HSE in youth-focused information, school guidance and cessation supports such as Quit 4 Youth.

We are not just restricting supply; we are supporting healthier choices. We should also be clear that Ireland is moving in step with our neighbours. Across Great Britain and the North, single-use vapes are being taken off the shelves, marketing routes have been sharply curtailed and strict product limits apply. Aligning with that direction of travel reduces cross-Border leakage from Northern Ireland and sends a consistent message that these products are not for children. I accept some elements require EU technical notification and a short standstill period, etc., but that should not delay Oireachtas scrutiny or preparedness. Retailers will need time to adapt store layouts, Revenue and the HSE will need time to bed in licensing and enforcement and producers will need to rework packaging and flavour descriptors but let us give them clarity and a fair, firm timeline and then hold the line. Our objective is simple - fewer children starting, more adults stopping and less litter on our streets. If this legislation means no more bubblegum "unicorn" vapes at the till, that is a positive outcome and not a problem. I commend the Minister of State and officials on a measured, evidence-led approach and I look forward to supporting swift passage of these Bills.

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