Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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307. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of the findings from the May 2025 ESPAD report which show that 10 percent of 15- and 16-year-olds in Ireland have used moist snuff and 7.6% have used nicotine pouches, with higher prevalence among male students and typical initiation at age 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40193/25]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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308. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of the promotional activity by nicotine pouch brands (details supplied) including the distribution of free samples and merchandise at retail tills, concerts, and festivals; if she will outline what steps her Department is taking to regulate the advertising, promotion, and availability of nicotine pouches to young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40194/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 308 together.

I am aware of the findings from the May 2025 ESPAD report which also has reported the lowest ever figures for ever, current and daily smoking among 15 – 16-year-olds since Ireland began participating in ESPAD surveys.

Snus is a tobacco product that is prohibited from sale in all EU countries other than Sweden while snuff is a smokeless tobacco product that is prohibited from sale within the EU. It is worth noting that nicotine pouches are sometimes referred to as snus.

My current legislative priority is the comprehensive regulation of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes, addressing point of sale display, the appearance of these devices, packaging, flavours and a ban on disposable vapes. These proposals are now being drafted with the Office of the Attorney General. Once drafting is completed, the measures will require notification and assessment at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535) and the Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU).

EU-wide regulation on novel nicotine products is more effective than individual Member States taking action as it ensures that measures cannot be avoided through cross-border purchases. As a revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive has been long awaited, I have, on behalf of Ireland and several other Member States, recently called on the European Commission to bring forward the revised Directive as soon as possible. I have called for that proposal to include all novel nicotine products such as pouches, and for this measure to include a ban on cross-border distance sales so that national measures cannot be avoided through purchases from other jurisdictions.