John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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584. To ask the Minister for Health if she will ban the use of hexahydrocannabinol vapes in Ireland; if she will outline her plan to regulate or ban vapes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26759/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The legislation required to subject hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) to control measures under the Misuse of Drugs legislation is currently being finalised along with additional substances and will be going to Government shortly.

The focus of policy and action in relation to vapes containing nicotine is to reduce uptake by children and young people. The Public Health (Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill, which is currently being drafted, will contain a range of measures to reduce the appeal of nicotine inhaling products to young people. This includes:

•  a ban on point-of-sale display and advertising of these products in most shops;

•  restrictions on the colours and imagery used on nicotine inhaling products and their packaging;

•  a ban on devices resembling toys or games;

•  restrictions on flavours for sale and requirements for only basic flavour names to be used; and

•  a complete ban on disposable vapes.

Once completed, the draft legislation will require notification at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535) and the Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU).