Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It would be remiss of me to allow this moment pass without saying a word on this issue. I thank the Minister of State; the Minister, Deputy Donnelly; and everybody in the Department who worked so hard on this important legislation.

When Micheál Martin was Minister for health we introduced the smoking ban. That was a significant public health measure replicated around the world. This is in the same vein and all the Ministers in the Department of Health should be proud of the work they have put into this. It is progressive. It is a first step, as outlined by Senator Conway. I look forward to further progressing this and making it impossible for people to walk into a shop and, for a couple of euro, get vapes. They are harmful and it breaks my heart to see young people, in particular, vaping around our towns and cities. I know from speaking to teachers that it is a particular problem in schools. This is a positive and welcome public health measure. I look forward to more measures being introduced in this vein.