Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the Senators for their valuable contributions to the debate on this important Bill. Data from the Global Burden of Disease study shows that the smoking of combustible products remains the biggest single cause of disability and death in Ireland. We have made important progress with this Bill to further reduce those harms with the introduction of a licensing system and the banning of the sale of these products from vending machines, pop-up shops and at events for children.

With this Bill, we are banning the sale of e-cigarettes to our children. The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, will introduce that ban immediately. As Senators know, he is committed to introducing further comprehensive legislation on e-cigarettes. As a first step, he launched our public consultation on 25 November.

We know that successful actions in respect of public health problems such as smoking and alcohol consumption require multiple evidence-based interventions in order to affect usage. Each aspect of the product, including pricing, advertising, packaging and manner of sale, needs to be addressed in order to have a successful impact. No single measure can be effective on its own and, therefore, a joint consultation and co-ordinated action on e-cigarettes is the approach that we are taking. We are seeking views on a point-of-sale ban, packaging, flavours and other interventions to reduce the appeal of e-cigarettes for our children. In addition, our consultation contains questions on behalf of the Minister for Finance on his proposal to introduce a domestic tax on nicotine inhaling products. The Minister for Health looks forward to receiving the results of that consultation.

I again thank Senators for their important contributions. We look forward to the measures in this Bill leading to a lasting improvement in the health and well-being of our young people and our society.