Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2024
257. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if a detailed regulatory impact assessment will be prepared and published at the same time as the general scheme of proposed new legislation on raising the legal age for smoking. [22193/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra258. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with retailers on the workability of raising the legal age for smoking, particularly given that differing age limits could apply to the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products; and if this matter will be assessed thoroughly in the regulatory impact assessment on the legislation proposing a change in the age for smoking. [22194/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra259. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if the current legislative provision for test-purchasing of tobacco by persons under the current age limit would be extended to allow 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to be used for test-purchasing if the legal age for smoking is raised to 21. [22195/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra260. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on the civil liberty and equality implications of his proposal to remove the right to smoke, which currently extends to all adults from over 190,000 Irish adults on the basis of age. [22196/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 260, inclusive, together.
The proposal approved by Government on 14 May relates to the minimum legal age of sale of tobacco products rather than to a legal age for smoking or a legal age related to the right to smoke.
A Regulatory Impact Analysis was submitted to Government as part of the proposal.
As tobacco smoking continues to kill an estimated 4,500 of our population each year, my Government colleagues approved my proposal to take strong action to reduce our smoking prevalence and to do so as quickly as possible.
The proposal does not include measures in relation to test purchasing. Consideration will be given to such measures in future law and in consultation with the enforcement authority, the National Environmental Health Service of the HSE.
