Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I intend to develop further legislation to regulate both tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products.

This week I received Cabinet approval to draft a Bill to increase the age of sale for tobacco products to 21. This is a much-needed measure to accelerate our progress towards a tobacco free Ireland and protect children and young people from this lethal product. It is my intention to seek priority drafting for this Bill and have a draft for introduction into the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible.

I am also developing legislation to further regulate nicotine inhaling products with the aim of reducing youth vaping. This legislation will be guided by a recent public consultation seeking views on a range of interventions, as well as evidence reviews and regulatory impact assessment to ensure that any measures are effective.

There has been ongoing engagement between my officials and officials from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland around similar measures being proposed there, with a view to regulatory alignment where possible.