Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
495. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the key issues facing the Government in terms of tobacco control over the next two years ahead of the next Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2023; the issues for consideration at the conference in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59873/21]
View answerOur work in tobacco control is and will continue to be guided by the recommendations contained in Tobacco Free Ireland, the national tobacco control policy. It is underpinned by two key principles: the denormalisation of smoking in society and the protection of children from the harms of tobacco smoke.
The implementation of the recommendations of Tobacco Free Ireland, which are fully in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) continues to be a priority. The Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will provide for a number of recommendations contained in Tobacco Free Ireland ; these include the development of a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and prohibiting the sale of tobacco products from self-service vending machines and at events/ locations primarily intended for children. My Department and our colleagues in the HSE will use all of the tools available to us – legislative, budgetary, cessation supports and enforcement – in our efforts to prevent smoking initiation and support people who smoke to stop smoking.
At the international level, decision-making on substantive tobacco control issues was limited at the recent FCTC Conference of the Parties (COP9). Among the issues deferred to COP10, which will take place in 2023, were: development of an FCTC Implementation Review Mechanism and discussion of matters relating to the regulation of contents and disclosure of tobacco products and novel and emerging tobacco products. As always, Ireland will actively participate in discussions to develop EU common positions in advance of COP10.
