Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Tobacco Control Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Ceisteanna (890, 891)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

890. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the sale and use of vaping and e cigarettes by children and young adults; the regulations in relation to same; if he plans to amend or bring forward proposals to deal with teens and young adults using vaping e cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21304/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

891. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the risks of young teens becoming addicted to nicotine as a result of the use of vaping and e cigarettes; if statistics or studies have been commissioned by his Department on the issue; if so, if they will be made available; his plans to deal with increased use of vaping products by children and young adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21305/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 890 and 891 together.

The most recent data on vaping among young people in Ireland is from the European Schools Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) 2019 Ireland report. The survey was completed by almost 2,000 Irish students aged 15 and 16 years and found that 39% of students surveyed reported having ever used an e-cigarette; of these 16% reported using one in the last 30 days. Separately, the Health Behaviour in School Age Children Study (HBSC) 2018 found that 22% of 12-17 year olds reported having tried e-cigarettes. Both the ESPAD and HBSC surveys received funding from my Department and are publicly available.

In October 2020 the Health Research Board delivered the findings of an evidence review on e-cigarettes. The review found that use of e-cigarettes is associated with an increased likelihood of smoking in adolescents. It also found that while electronic cigarettes may represent a reduction in harm relative to smoking, they are not harmless. The Health Research Board review was commissioned by my department and is available on their website.

The General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill provides for a prohibition on the sale of e-cigarettes to, or by, persons under the age of 18. The Bill will also introduce a licensing system for the retail sale of nicotine inhaling products. The General Scheme of the Bill is with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting and has also been referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Health for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.

Barr
Roinn