Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)

The Government has been caught napping when it comes to vapes. We all knew this was coming down the line and yet the Government failed to take adequate action to prevent the problems we are now witnessing. I am even after hearing the Minister of State’s Government colleagues calling this out. The rate of vape use among 15 to 16-year-olds is at 18%, with 39% of them having tried it at some stage. This should be a serious concern for all of us. Many vape shop owners share those concerns, some of whom have contacted me in County Clare to express their worries. Responsible shop owners want robust legislation as much as we do. Future-proof legislation is needed as a matter of urgency. The delay in bringing forward legislation before now means that much of what is being proposed is already out of date. To be meaningful, any legislation needs to include disposable vapes, nicotine pouches and HHC vapes. The legislation also needs to be broad enough to include new, alternative products which will become available to replace any products that will be restricted. Such alternative products are already available. We cannot be left trying to catch up again.

According to the Health Research Board, we have a situation where young people are reporting for treatment for the effects of HHC vapes at a rate of approximately ten per month. This is absolutely unacceptable and an indication of the lack of Government action. There have been calls from the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland for HHC to be banned because of the addiction and serious mental health issues it is seeing in young patients.

A number of steps need to be taken to reduce the number of children accessing these products and to reduce the harm they cause. An anti-vaping service for young people needs to be established to inform, advise and assist them to quit or, better still, abstain from using such products in the first place. An awareness campaign needs to be brought forward so that everyone is aware of the dangers these products can cause. Parents in Clare have been in touch to say that they are left dealing with their children suffering from addiction because of vape use. According to Clare Parenting’s guide on vapes, e-cigarettes and disposables for teenagers, using these products can have an impact on a person’s physical and mental health, concentration in school, activities and hobbies, relationships with family and friends and finances. The current support system services around tobacco and smoking should be reviewed to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Single-use vapes are banned in the North and should be banned here without delay. The Irish Heart Foundation called on the Government to do this when the ban came into effect in the North in order to protect the health of our young people. Vapes are marketed to our young people through the use of catchy product names, imaginative flavour names and strategic packaging. All of these aspects of vapes need to be regulated by the Government. The Government’s record on this issue is one of failure to act promptly. Government Ministers have been issuing statements and expressing intent, but to date we have not seen the necessary legislation enacted. That needs to change. I call on the Minister of State to reassure the House that it will.

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