Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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646. To ask the Minister for Health his Department's position on vaping; if there are any measures to introduce regulation of vaping in public places; if so, the details of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11832/17]

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Vaping is a relatively new occurrence. While the market share for electronic cigarettes and refill containers is growing, the long-term effects of vaping on public health are not yet known. Electronic cigarettes are regulated by the European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016. These Regulations transposed the European Tobacco Products Directive and came into effect on 20 May 2016.

The introduction of the workplace smoking ban was based on clear and unequivocal evidence that second hand smoke is harmful to non-smokers. That evidence base does not exist for the aerosol generated from e-cigarettes. However, individual organisations/companies are free to introduce an e-cigarette free policy if they so choose.

My Department will continue to monitor the emerging research on these products, so as to inform decisions around any future additional regulation in this area.