Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I welcome that the Minister of State is here to take this debate. However, why are we having statements on this issue and not a debate on the legislation? During my time in the Seanad when we debated the legislation on the prohibition of sales to under-18s, there was promise at that time that we would move on legislation to deal with the issue of flavoured nicotine-inhaling products and that we would deal with some of the marketing issues, yet it has not happened. I really have to ask the question: why are we having statements on this? We have talked about this. Everybody knows and every colleague here has highlighted the problems. They have been highlighted by youth organisations.

FDYS in County Wexford did an extensive study around young people. Young people themselves want action to be taken. Even the use of the term "vapes" is wrong. These are nicotine-inhaling devices and it is a public health crisis. While I respect that the Minister of State is relatively new in the post, I am not convinced that her Department is taking this sufficiently seriously.

We know the damage nicotine causes. Many of these nicotine-inhaling companies are the cigarette companies of old and we are allowing them to market products, as we have heard already, in an attractive way to young and vulnerable people. People who had never smoked before are taking up vapes. I really question why the Minister of State is in here responding to statements. When the Minister of State responds, will we hear her say that legislation will be introduced on this issue before Christmas and that it is a public health emergency? I am quite happy to sit as late as we need to some evening to fast-track this legislation. There is cross-party agreement on the need to address this. We know that this issue is at crisis point in all of our communities.

I was very struck by a survey of approximately 1,400 young people from the Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford areas that two students from FCJ Secondary School, Bunclody carried out nearly four years ago. The Minister of State knows that school and area very well. A total of 10% of the young people involved in the survey had never smoked previously but now regarded themselves as regular vape users and effectively addicted to it. The problem is that nothing has happened in that four-year period. I am not convinced that the Minister of State’s Department is treating this as a public health emergency. I will be very disappointed if the Minister of State does not stand up in her concluding remarks – and I will tune in – to give a clear commitment that, as the Minister of State with responsibility in this area, she will introduce legislation before Christmas that will address the issues of packaging and marketing.

We do not have a department of public health in this country. Rather, we have a Department of illness and sickness. This is a public health crisis. I know the Minister of State is a serious person who is deeply committed to her role, but we need to move on legislation as soon as possible.

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