Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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561. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to regulate the sale of nicotine products for oral consumption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64167/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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On the 18th of November 2025, the Government approved the addition of baseline measures on all non-medicinal nicotine containing products, including pouches, to my current draft (Public Heath Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill. These measures will introduce a minimum legal age of sale, a restriction on point of sale display and a prohibition on advertising in retail outlets. They will be developed in early 2026.

Nicotine pouches are not currently subject to regulation under European Union tobacco control legislation. A harmonised EU-wide framework for regulating these products would be more effective than individual Member State action, as it prevents regulatory circumvention through cross-border purchases.

In this context, representing Ireland and several other Member States, I recently urged the European Commission to introduce new EU tobacco control legislation at the earliest opportunity. I have also advocated for the inclusion of all novel nicotine products—such as nicotine pouches—within the scope of this proposal. I have also called for a prohibition on cross-border distance sales to ensure the integrity of national regulatory measures.

Nicotine pouch use remains very low within the adult population, while 17% are current tobacco smokers. Preventing smoking initiation and encouraging its cessation remain the primary focus in relation to nicotine use. Half of all smokers will eventually die from a tobacco-related illness and each week in Ireland tobacco smoking kills over 100 people and causes over 1000 hospitalisations.