Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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493. To ask the Minister for Health the level of participation that Irish officials had in the recent Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59871/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The 9th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control took place virtually from 8 to 12 November 2021.

As with previous COPs, a common EU position on the various agenda items was developed in advance of the meeting. Officials from the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Unit in my Department participated in EU meetings to develop these positions during September and October, and attended the conference from 8 to 12 November.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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494. To ask the Minister for Health the lessons learned at the recent Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; the way the outcome of the conference will inform Ireland's approach to tobacco control legislation in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59872/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The 9^thConference to the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was a very different type of conference to previous COPs given its virtual nature. There was very limited opportunity for substantive discussion of issues of concern to the tobacco control community with decision-making on these issues largely postponed to COP10 in 2023.

One of the main decisions taken at COP9 was the approval of the creation of an investment fund to provide an alternative source of regular funding for the implementation of the FCTC and global tobacco control efforts. The meeting also adopted the Declaration on WHO FCTC and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. We supported the Declaration which stresses both the need to protect public health policy from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry and that tobacco control measures should be an integral part in pandemic recovery efforts.

The ongoing implementation of the FCTC remains a tobacco control priority. Measures proposed for the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill are fully in line with the FCTC. These include the development of a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products; prohibiting the sale of tobacco products from self-service vending machines and mobile units/containers, and at events/ locations primarily intended for children. As with all areas of public health policy relating to tobacco control policy, we will remain vigilant in protecting this legislation from interference by the tobacco industry.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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495. To ask the Minister for Health the key issues facing the Government in terms of tobacco control over the next two years ahead of the next Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2023; the issues for consideration at the conference in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59873/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Our work in tobacco control is and will continue to be guided by the recommendations contained in Tobacco Free Ireland, the national tobacco control policy. It is underpinned by two key principles: the denormalisation of smoking in society and the protection of children from the harms of tobacco smoke.

The implementation of the recommendations of Tobacco Free Ireland, which are fully in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) continues to be a priority. The Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will provide for a number of recommendations contained in Tobacco Free Ireland; these include the development of a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and prohibiting the sale of tobacco products from self-service vending machines and at events/ locations primarily intended for children. My Department and our colleagues in the HSE will use all of the tools available to us – legislative, budgetary, cessation supports and enforcement – in our efforts to prevent smoking initiation and support people who smoke to stop smoking.

At the international level, decision-making on substantive tobacco control issues was limited at the recent FCTC Conference of the Parties (COP9). Among the issues deferred to COP10, which will take place in 2023, were: development of an FCTC Implementation Review Mechanism and discussion of matters relating to the regulation of contents and disclosure of tobacco products and novel and emerging tobacco products. As always, Ireland will actively participate in discussions to develop EU common positions in advance of COP10.