Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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549. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the proposals by the European Commission to regulate e-cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53747/13]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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608. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the review on the regulation of e-cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54196/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 608 together.

The report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group 'Tobacco Free Ireland' was launched on the 03rd October 2013. The report recommends the establishment of a regulatory framework for nicotine products in the context of discussions at European Union level. Last December, the Commission published a proposal for a new EU Tobacco Products Directive, the ultimate purpose of which is to reduce the numbers of people smoking. The proposal is being discussed in the European Parliament and Council of Ministers and the Commission hope that it will be adoptedin 2014. Under the proposal, electronic cigarettes above a certain threshold of nicotine would be regulated under medicines legislation.