Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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187. To ask the Minister for Health if she will incorporate nicotine pouches into the upcoming vaping legislation to restrict the use of flavours and the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24627/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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188. To ask the Minister for Health if she will issue health advisory guidelines to schools related to nicotine pouches while legislation is being developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24628/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.

The proposals in the Public Health (Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill stem from the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee in 2022, a large-scale public consultation held in 2023/2024 and specific regulatory impact analysis, based on the available data and research regarding the prevalence of vaping in young people and adults, any evidence of health harms, and research on the interaction between vaping and smoking.

Nicotine pouches are currently not covered by domestic or EU tobacco control legislation, with some Member States classifying them as either a foodstuff or medicine. The regulation of nicotine pouches is being discussed at EU level, both in terms of how these products are categorised and in the context of the review of the Tobacco Products Directive. An EU public consultation was carried out in 2023 to gain views on further regulation of novel products such as nicotine pouches, and a proposal from the EU Commission is awaited.

According to available data, the prevalence of nicotine pouches use remains low in the adult population across the EU. Data on adolescent use of nicotine pouches in Ireland is being collected as part of the most recent European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) and will be published shortly. My Department continues to monitor any emerging evidence regarding these products.

However, work is ongoing within the HSE to increase access to information on nicotine products for young people, parents and schools:

• Junior Cycle SPHE resources were published in 2023 on the impact of nicotine, tobacco use, second-hand smoke, e-cigarettes and vaping.
• The HSE’s guidance for schools on vaping includes information on the impact of nicotine on adolescents.
• The HSE is currently updating its public-facing resources on recreational nicotine products such as nicotine pouches.
• Funding (non-recurring) was allocated in Budget 2025 for a youth vaping prevention media campaign. A stakeholder group is currently being formed to review relevant research and evidence, define the specific target audience, identify campaign objectives and then commission the development and implementation of this campaign. Consideration is being given to incorporate other recreational nicotine products such as nicotine pouches. No decision has been made has been made on their inclusion or otherwise to date.