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Tobacco Control Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

Questions (624)

Alan Farrell

Question:

624. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to tackle youth smoking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46044/21]

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Written answers

The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study 2018 found that 5 percent of children aged 10 to 17 smoke, a decline of 3 percent on the 2014 figure. While this decline is welcome we want to drive the number of children who smoke down to zero and there are a number of initiatives taking place at national and at local level that are working towards that outcome.

The Public Health (Tobacco & Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will ban the sale of tobacco products at places or events intended for children, from mobile units or containers, and from self-service vending machines, all of which will reduce the availability of tobacco products to children. It will also prohibit the sale of tobacco products by people under the age of 18 and prohibit the sale of nicotine inhaling products to those under 18. Finally, it will create a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, with increased enforcement options available to the HSE in dealing with non-compliant retailers.

In addition to legislation, community initiatives such as the ‘Not Around Us’ campaigns in Limerick, Galway and Clare are contributing to the denormalisation of smoking for children and young people while the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland programme has worked with educators to develop content on the dangers of tobacco use as part of the Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum. This multi-faceted approach is, and will continue to be, crucial in ensuring that young people do not take up smoking.

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