I propose to take Questions Nos. 610, 675 and 676 together.
The EU Tobacco Products Directive does not legislate for age of sale therefore it would be possible for Ireland to increase its minimum legal age of sale of tobacco products through domestic law.
I am aware of the campaign to increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 years. I welcome this engagement from civil society and I know that the strong alliance between civil society and Government is the reason that Ireland has been notably successful and has a global reputation as a pioneer in tobacco control.
I understand that at least eleven countries have already increased their legal age of sale of tobacco to 21 with the U.S. introducing it at a federal level in December 2019. I look forward to the evidence from those interventions. My Department continues to examine all policy option, including those relating to age of purchase, which would reduce the enormous, and entirely preventable, toll of disease and death from tobacco smoking in our country.