Mark Duffy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise an issue that is popping up in towns and villages all across the country, that is, vaping shops. I raised it previously with the Minister for Justice when he was in the Seanad. We need to amend the existing legislation - the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 - to have more stringent and stronger repellents and barriers for the sale of vaping products, in particular the targeting of young people. In one example in my home county of Mayo, we have a shop that sells vapes and candy together, enticing young people and encouraging them to use vaping as a stepping stone. It is abhorrent to see that level of cynicism from businesses that are trying to encourage young people to vape. I would encourage a discussion on this matter. I intend to work on tightening the legislation to stop the proliferation of these shops across towns and villages. We have made good strides on the sale of cigarettes in terms of their branding, their packaging, and how they have to be kept behind the counter and not advertised, whereas vapes, vaping products and the accessories that go with smoking and vaping seem to have proliferated across all towns and villages. There are quick fixes we can make to amend the existing legislation to stop the product placement and the association with candy or sweets and other things young people would be attracted to in vaping. It is shocking to see it like that. We should also put stringent fines in place for shop owners who flout these rules, if we can get this addressed. I encourage a debate on it.

I congratulate the Relay for Life Mayo organisation, which hosted an incredible weekend, raising money for cancer research and charities. More than €130,000 was raised. The great weekend and weather helped an awful lot. It was fabulous to see many different people in the community getting out and celebrating those who survived cancer but also remembering those they had lost.It was a great way of raising hopes and spirits and obtaining money for a great cause. I compliment two local county councillors, Peter Flynn and Brendan Mulroy, who did an incredible job of raising much-needed funds for cancer research. I also compliment the community in Westport and County Mayo generally for getting behind a brilliant event.