Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which vaping or other smoking alternatives continue to be evaluated with a view to ensuring that they do not encourage tobacco smoking; if the smoking habit has increased through the use of alternatives or hand-rolled tobacco cigarettes; if he proposes to take steps to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47139/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In October 2020 the Health Research Board published the findings of three evidence reviews conducted at the request of the Minister for Health. The reviews examined electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products including their public health harms or benefits and their effectiveness as an aid to cessation of smoking tobacco products.

The evidence reviews found that e-cigarettes are not harmless but that they are less harmful than tobacco cigarettes, that e-cigarettes are as effective as nicotine replacement therapies for smoking cessation up to 6 months and that there is a positive association between e-cigarette use and subsequent smoking in adolescents.

The reviews also made clear that further research was needed on the effects of alternatives such as heat-not-burn tobacco products as there is currently insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions about these products. The Department of Health continues to monitor emerging evidence concerning novel products.

E-cigarette usage is monitored in the Healthy Ireland Survey. The most recent survey (2019) found that 5% of people reported using electronic cigarettes. Use of e-cigarettes among smokers was 10%, among ex-smokers was 13% and among non-smokers was 1%.

In relation to tobacco smoking, the 2019 Healthy Ireland survey found that the overall smoking prevalence in Ireland had dropped to 17%, with 14% smoking regularly and 3% occasionally. It is not possible to point to any single factor or product as the cause of changes in smoking rates which is why Ireland's Tobacco Free Ireland policy, and the WHO MPOWER model on which it is based, both recommend multiple measures to address tobacco smoking. Those measures including addressing areas such price, restrictions on promotion and cessation services.  

The General Scheme for a Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill includes multiple measures to reduce the disease, disability and death associated with tobacco smoking. The Scheme for a Bill provides for a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products, a prohibition on the sale of tobacco products from vending machines, a prohibition on the sale of e-cigarettes to persons under the age of 18 and a prohibition on the sale of tobacco products and e-cigarettes by persons under the age of 18. The General Scheme is with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting and has also been referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Health for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.