Written answers

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Department of Health

Tobacco Control Measures

Photo of Conor SheehanConor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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3066. To ask the Minister for Health if she will ban flavoured vapes, limit nicotine concentration levels and introduce plain packaging and mandatory health warnings on packaging of vapes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43067/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The EU Tobacco Products Directive is the main law governing nicotine inhaling products in Ireland. Among other things, this Directive sets maximum nicotine concentrations and maximum volumes for cartridges, tanks and nicotine liquid containers. Health warnings for e-cigarettes are mandatory advising consumers that e-cigarettes contain nicotine and should not be used by non-smokers.

Domestic law is currently being drafted to further regulate nicotine inhaling products with the aim of reducing youth vaping. This includes:

  • restrictions on the colours and imagery used on nicotine inhaling products and their packaging
  • restrictions on flavours for sale and requirements for only basic flavour names to be used
  • a ban on point-of-sale display and advertising of these products in most shops
  • a ban on devices resembling toys or games, and
  • a ban on the sale of single-use vapes.
Once completed, the draft legislation will require notification at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535).

Photo of Conor SheehanConor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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3067. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people hospitalised, per hospital, due to vaping related illnesses or injuries in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43068/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Photo of Conor SheehanConor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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3068. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department has allocated funding to any initiatives aimed at reducing the use of vapes, specifically among younger people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43069/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Funding of €300,000 was allocated in Budget 2025 for a youth vaping prevention media campaign. This is currently being developed by the HSE.

In addition:

  • Quit 4 Youth is a specific 7-week HSE programme for young people to get help to stop smoking or vaping.
  • Junior Cycle SPHE resources were published in 2023 on the impact of nicotine, tobacco use, second-hand smoke, e-cigarettes and vaping.
  • The HSE published specific guidance for schools on vaping in 2024.

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