Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Carlow-Kilkenny · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“There is nothing any of us in this House can say that can undo the pain, harm and loss experienced by those young boys, their families and the communities in which they lived, played basketball and worked. They have had to endure a lifetime of harm, many of them carrying their suffering in silence.”
“We are listening to you, we are learning and we are acting. All of us in this House have a responsibility to ensure that our child safeguarding systems are robust. We must ensure that if concerns are raised today, they are acted on without delay.”
“Today is a profoundly important and solemn day. I want to add my voice to the full and formal State apology and to acknowledge the courage, dignity and perseverance of those survivors who fought for truth and accountability for so many years.”
“I thank the Deputy for highlighting this very important issue and the 161 recommendations. First, I thank the Joint Committee on Drug Use for its work. I welcomed the report and I am in agreement with many of its recommendations. As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year I published a draft of the national drugs strategy.”
“The Bill and the secondary legislation, training and clinical protocols that will follow it will support the terms and conditions for this service, as laid out in the community pharmacy agreement. All secondary legislation will be in place before commencement and launch of this measure.”
“No. I thank the Deputy again for her work on the drugs committee. The vast majority of the 161 recommendations will be in the new drugs strategy but one of the recommendations was on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. It falls under section 3. That legalises drugs. It is important we tell the people of the concern.”
The complete record
Every one of 977 lines we hold for Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 15 of 20.
“I am delighted to announce further investment in budget 2026 for the national drugs strategy and health and well-being. The total allocation for drugs and inclusion health has increased to €289 million. This is an increase of €11 million in non-pay related measures. I am determined that people throughout the country will access timely quality care. I am committed to the continued expansion of drugs services across all regions, with a particular focus on rural areas throughout the country and not just in our main cities. I have paid particular attention to the report of the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use and to the evaluation of the national drugs strategy in framing the measures in budget 2026.”
“I thank the Senators. I see the seriousness of it. Every day I deal with schools in my area, Carlow-Kilkenny. I want to echo the Senators. I have to compliment the teachers for their hard work and dedication over the years. There is the urgent matter, as Senator O'Reilly said, of the 37 students - local children - looking for a school. Both Senators can be assured that I will be straight away back in contact with the Department. I have been advised that the Department will advance this matter as quickly as possible and that it is very conscious that where additional accommodation is required, a significant lead-in time is necessary for a variety of reasons. The Minister is also saying this. I thank the Senators again. I can assure them I will definitely go back to the Minister on this.”
“The Department of Education and Youth's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places. The Department will continue the supports and active engagement it has put in place over recent years for schools and parents in ensuring all pupils receive an offer of a school place for the 2026-27 school year and into the future. The educational welfare service of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, and its national network of educational welfare officers is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child.”
“The school had requested that this accommodation be added to their traditional build project. However, given the delays this would have entailed the school agreeing to allow its stage 2B project proceed and to have its accommodation needs reviewed at a later stage. The school was advised, as an interim measure, that it could apply for funding to reconfigure current accommodation for a special class. While the Department of Education and Youth is aware of continuing enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in the area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, the position may be compounded by duplication of applications, school of choice and external draw factors.”
“At the time, the design team was required to submit a revised cost plan and updated drawings reflecting design changes as part of the stage 2B report. The ASA delivery section currently awaits this updated cost plan and the stage 2B post-planning report from the school, which should include the necessary statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documentation for review. It is noted that the school submitted a request for additional accommodation in September 2025, which may have implications for the scope and progression of the current ASA project. The Department will be required to assess the impact of this request in the context of this existing project. The school also applied, under the ASA scheme, in February 2025 for special class accommodation and a replacement mainstream classroom.”
“Aidan’s was approved for a permanent build project for a home economics room, an engineering room and prep area and a construction studies prep area. This project is currently at stage 2B as both Senators have mentioned. It is now devolved to the school authority for delivery so the school is on for delivery. The school was approved two modular mainstream classrooms and this project is complete. The stage 1 early design report for the traditional build was submitted to Department officials in December 2022. Following this, the Department conducted a comprehensive review of the project from both technical and cost perspectives, in line with the requirements of the public spending code. In March 2023, approval was recommended to progress the project to stage 2B planning, incorporating the Department’s comments and recommendations.”
“I thank the two Senators for highlighting this very serious issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee. The Department of Education and Youth plans to address the additional accommodation needs for St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School, Cootehill, County Cavan. St. Aidan’s is a co-educational comprehensive school under Catholic patronage. Currently 630 pupils are enrolled in the school. The Department is in receipt of an application for funding under the additional schools accommodation, ASA, scheme from St. Aidan’s. The application was received in September 2025 and sought accommodation in the form of a music room, a textiles room, a design and computer graphics room, a multimedia room, and a science lab and prep area. St.”
“In March, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, announced funding of almost €4 million for the organisations that support victims of crime, including those that provide information and services on the rights of victims, courts and other complementary services, specialised counselling services and helplines, and training initiatives. I have another page or two in my response, but I understand my time is up. I can assure the Senator that her concerns will certainly go back to the Minister and his Department. I thank her for raising this very serious issue.”
“I will certainly bring this request to the attention of the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. I feel it is very important. Access to justice is a fundamental right, a cornerstone of our democracy and central to the rule of law. Nowhere is this more significant than in cases where victims of domestic violence need court support. This is exactly what the Senator is saying. As I mentioned earlier, the comprehensive set of recommendations contained in the civil legal aid review is being given careful consideration by the Minister and his Department. The Senator will be aware that a range of supports is available for people experiencing domestic abuse, including from An Garda Síochána, our Courts Service and our other specialist domestic violence services, many of which are funded through Cuan or by the DSGBV agencies.”
“In June 2022, a civil legal aid review group was established to review the current operation of the civil legal aid scheme, including the suitability of the current eligibility thresholds. The comprehensive set of recommendations contained in the review is being given careful consideration. This is happening now. These recommendations include the potential for legislative changes to modify the application of the legal merits test in certain circumstances and to provide access to legal representation in certain circumstances, irrespective of means, for victims of domestic violence.”
“A range of civil legal issues is covered by the scheme, including domestic violence applications, which are prioritised by the board. The board provides legal aid to all eligible applicants for the scheme, whether they are applicants to the court for certain remedies or the respondents in such cases. This is also the case in domestic violence proceedings. While contributions from those legally aided are an aspect of the scheme, the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 2017 provide that no contribution is payable for those applying solely for orders under the Domestic Violence Act 2018. Opportunities remain for continued work in the area of free legal aid as it relates to matters involving domestic violence.”
“In addition, the European Convention on Human Rights provides that every person charged with a criminal offence is entitled to defend themselves in person, or through legal assistance of their own choosing, or if they have insufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so require. The criminal legal aid scheme must operate with due regard to these rights. Civil legal aid and advice is provided for qualifying individuals in a range of civil matters. There are two elements to the scheme: legal advice and legal representation. Eligibility is determined by way of a means test and a merits test on the merits of the case being taken. The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means.”
“I thank the Senator for this matter which is an area we have all been making recommendations on. It is something that is important to us all. As the Senator will know, I am here today to represent the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. It is important to note that criminal legal aid and civil legal aid are separate services. Criminal legal aid is granted by the courts and concerns the prosecution of criminal offences. An applicant for legal aid must establish, to the satisfaction of the court, that their means are insufficient to enable them to pay for legal aid themselves. The court must also be satisfied that, by reason of the "gravity of the charge" or "exceptional circumstances", it is essential in the interests of justice that the applicant should have legal aid.”
“I am sure Senator Byrne is aware of that. The Bill further includes a range of measures that will bring welcome changes across a range of areas, including bolstering censoring options to reduce reliance on custodial sentences. In budget 2025, the Probation Service received an additional €4 million, bringing its total budget to more than €60 million. This is all important. I thank Senator Byrne for highlighting the issue. I assure him that the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and his team are very much committed to delivering on these issues. They also see the urgent need to do that.”
“I thank Senator Byrne for bringing up such an important issue. On behalf of the Minister, I want to underline the importance of the commitment to progressing and implementing policies aimed at increasing the use of community sanctions that reduce offending, divert people away from imprisonment and provide effective rehabilitation. That is something we are working on. On 6 May 2025, the Minister published the general scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which proposes to increase the maximum number of hours that can be imposed under a community service order from 240 to 480 hours. The amendment will also require a judge to consider a community service order for sentences of up to two years rather than the current one-year requirement. That is also being looked at.”
“The programme for Government also commits to implement electronic tagging for appropriate categories of prisoner. Work is under way to operationalise electronic monitoring in line with existing legislative provisions. It is intended to go to tender for an electronic monitoring provider this year.”
“Additionally, the Minister sought and secured an exemption for six projects to move straight to approval gate 2 - pre-tender approval of the infrastructure guidelines - and this measure is expected to speed up the delivery of 960 of these spaces by 12 to 18 months. That is a really important point. Budget 2025 increased overall funding for the Irish Prison Service by €79 million, or 18%, compared to 2024, bringing the total allocated to nearly €525 million. This increase is to fund measures to address overcrowding, including a capital budget of €53 million, which is €22.5 million more than the original 2024 allocation. Supported by the increased budget, the Irish Prison Service also aims to recruit up to 300 prison officers in 2025, in addition to the 271 prison officers recruited in 2024.”
“Following the review of the national development plan, a record capital investment of €495 million is being provided to the Irish Prison Service for a capital building programme over the next five years to deliver on the Government's commitments to expand capacity in our prisons, which will enable the largest ever prison building programme in the State. This funding will allow the delivery of 1,595 spaces between now and 2031. This includes a new prison on the site of the old Cork Prison, a new block in Wheatfield, an additional block extension at Midlands Prison, and additional spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy and the Dóchas Centre.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy O'Callaghan, who is in the Dáil Chamber today. The Minister is acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons and the resulting challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons. Work to increase capacity has begun. Since 2022, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by 380 new spaces, with 126 delivered in 2024 and 43 delivered to date in 2025, with plans to deliver a further 138 by the end of 2026. Action is being taken by the Irish Prison Service on a daily basis to manage overcrowding through temporary release. Decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case-by-case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.”
“We are working on different areas, including information around what the long-term effects could be. I assure the Senator that I will go back to the Minister and we will make this a priority. I will absolutely raise the Senator's concerns. I thank all of the shops and other businesses that are using their own initiative and telling people they cannot vape in them. Fair play to them. At the end of the day, it is really important that they are showing the initiative to do that. Well done to all of them. I thank the House for having me today.”
“Legislation is one tool we have and it is very important, but we are continuing to support the great voluntary initiatives being implemented by the local authorities and the HSE. They have also been funded to carry out a vaping prevention campaign for young people. Like the Senator, I am very mindful that it is not just young people who are vaping. Rather, it is across the board. We are working on two important Bills that will come to the House very soon on the banning of disposable vapes and to look at the colours, flavours and packaging and having a shutter. I also understand the issues around vaping, be it through businesses or indoors. Everything is being looked at. The main thing with vaping at the moment is how much information we have on it.”
“In short, the Government is looking at this in a rounded manner as part of a review of the broader policy while focusing on the urgent measures required to reduce youth vaping.”
“I am absolutely committed to getting the legislation into the two Houses urgently. Other possible measures are being kept under consideration, particularly regarding an update to the tobacco-free Ireland policy, which is currently under way. This will include a review of the existing range of legislative and non-legislative measures to promote smoke-free and vape-free environments and to consider whether any existing provisions require strengthening. This will be done in the context of the update in December 2024 to the European Council’s recommendation on smoke-free and aerosol-free environments, which Ireland supported. This encourages member states to protect the public from both smoke and vape fumes in a range of indoor and outdoor public environments.”
“Consultation also took place with the national environmental health service in the HSE on the practicalities of how we enforce the measures under public consultation. That was the main thing for us. The Minister proceeded with the measures that would likely have the greatest impact on reducing youth vaping. Members will be aware that the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is working on this and is very much committed to it. Legislation is being drafted, which we are working on together, to restrict flavours, packaging, point-of-sale display, and advertising for nicotine-inhaling products. A further Bill will ban the sale of single-use vapes. These Bills are a priority for publication and we are hoping to have them in the autumn legislative programme as soon as possible.”
“Any proposed law must be underpinned by evidence. Currently, there is a lack of evidence of significant health harms from second-hand vape fumes. The WHO has concluded that it may pose some harm to bystanders but further research is greatly needed. Irish public health experts have noted, however, that a legislative ban on vaping indoors may be justified based on the denormalisation of vaping and the uncertainty around future possible health impacts from second-hand aerosol. The process of examining legislative restrictions on indoor vaping began in late 2023 with a public consultation on smoke- and vape-free areas, alongside other options, to further regulate tobacco- and nicotine-inhaling products.”
“The promotion of smoke-free and aerosol-free environments in these contexts takes place through voluntary efforts. The Senator is 100% right on that. A lot of businesses are doing it through their own voluntary efforts. Many businesses and organisations have introduced their own restrictions on vaping indoors, for example, in bars and restaurants and even on public transport. The HSE continues to implement and support tobacco- and e-cigarette-free health and education campuses. A particular success in many of our local areas has been the Not Around Us campaign, which seeks to increase the number of smoke-free and vape-free environments by amplifying the voices of our young people. This is led by our young people. They have been campaigning about not having smoke and so on. This is important and we must listen to our young people.”
“I thank the Senator for raising another important issue. More young people are vaping and it is also an issue for businesses. How we work on that will be very important. The Government promotes smoke- and aerosol-free environments through a variety of legislative and non-legislative measures, as set out in the tobacco-free Ireland policy. The Public Health (Tobacco) Act banned smoking in indoor workplaces in 2004. In 2014, legislation prohibited smoking in a car with a child present. This legislation was in response to robust evidence on the disease and premature death that may be caused by second-hand smoke. This legislation currently does not apply to vaping or smoking in certain residential facilities, in outdoor areas such as parks, beaches and playgrounds, and on health and education campuses.”
“These will reduce variations in the management of patients, including those referred for triple assessment, and will lead to more appropriate referral and management of patients. I will get the Senator more information on that. Where hospitals are challenged to meet their targets, it is important to say this is often due to staff vacancies. Regarding accessing diagnostics and capacity issues, individual hospitals respond to these challenges with local improvement plans, whether additional clinics, outsourcing diagnostics or reviewing patient pathways to another process. The Government remains committed to implementation of the national cancer strategy and to building on the significant investment and process already made to improve outcomes of patients. This is a timely and important area.”
“Breast cancer survivors constitute the largest cancer survivor group in Ireland, comprising 22% of all cancer survivors. As I said, nearly 50% of women at last count are breast cancer survivors, which is really important. In relation to concerns over waiting times, the time of the triple assessment is determined by a clinician. This is a clinical concern so urgent patients are prioritised. I will definitely come back to the Senator on that. Access to diagnostics is a challenge across all cancer services and is suggestive of wider pressures on radiology across the health system. The national cancer control programme has produced a range of guidelines aimed at ensuring standardised access to cancer services.”
“I will be delighted to follow up with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, today. It is like everything in life. The Senator mentioned the good things that happened in the process but when someone has gone through the process, the only concern really is the timing of assessments, whether the scan, the biopsy or the test. I will definitely go back to the Minister on that. Early diagnosis is so important in cases of cancer. Since the first national cancer strategy in 1996, detection and diagnosis at the earliest possible stage has been a key priority for us. Cancer services and infrastructure have been designed and delivered through successful national cancer strategies alongside developments in treatment, which have led to improvements in cancer survival rates.”
“The Government remains committed to the implementation of the national cancer strategy and to continuing to build on improvements to services and better outcomes for patients.”
“For urgent patients attending a triple assessment clinic, this imaging is frequently completed on the same day as the clinic. The Early Diagnosis of Symptomatic Cancer Plan 2022-2025, which has been extended to 2027, emphasises the need to continually identify and address health-system factors that affect the timeliness of diagnoses. That is crucial. The national cancer control programme monitors progress on this data on a regular basis. Advances in cancer detection and treatment have been achieved through sustained investment in our health services. In budget 2025, an additional €23 million was secured for the national cancer strategy. This means over €105 million has been invested in the strategy since 2017, which has enabled the recruitment of over 670 staff to our national cancer services.”
“The HSE advises that when breast cancer is suspected, diagnosis in the breast clinic is made by triple assessment consisting of a clinical assessment, which is an exam; a scan; and a biopsy. Not all patients who attend SBD clinics require triple assessment. Within SBD clinics, referrals are triaged by clinicians and where a triple assessment is deemed necessary, the timing of these tests is determined by clinical concern. It is all clinician-led. With regard to the matter raised by the Senator, the HSE has a KPI monitoring compliance with the target that breast imaging clinical requests - that is, mammography or ultrasound - for new patients should be carried out within 12 weeks of the consultant surgeon’s assessment in the specialist clinic. National compliance with this KPI for the last 12 months on a rolling basis is 90%.”
“Symptomatic breast disease, SBD, rapid-access clinics are run in each of the eight designated cancer centres and in one networked centre. Each year approximately 45,000 women are seen in these clinics and this figure is increasing year on year. That is a concern, as the Senator said. The SBD clinics triage referrals according to symptoms, with patients triaged as either urgent or non-urgent. HSE key performance indicators, KPIs, set out that urgent referrals are to be offered an appointment within ten working days, while non-urgent referrals are to be offered an appointment within 12 weeks. I will highlight this to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and ask what we can do to improve it. Everything to do with breast care is about timing.”
“I thank the Senator for her very passionate words as a cancer survivor. It is so important that the Senator, through her role, highlights these concerns. It is great to see her doing so well today. We all know how cancer can affect families. There is not a family in Ireland that has not been affected in some way by cancer. I thank her for her advocacy and hope that her health will be brilliant. She is doing a very good job, for which I thank her. Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer among women in Ireland and accounts for 32% of all invasive cancers diagnosed in women. One in seven Irish women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection improves survival rates, allows for less invasive management and enhances quality of life for patients.”
“One will deal with the ban on disposable vapes and the other relates to colours and packaging. It is very visual when you walk into a shop. We will also look at the introduction of shutters. These are all proposals and Bills that are being prioritised by the Government. I assure everyone that I am doing my utmost to get those Bills before the House as soon as possible. The commitment will be, hopefully with all of us working together, to get both passed in order that we can have more enforcement and give a commitment to the future children of Ireland and everyone else. We are very much aware that we need to get the legislation done.”
“I am trying to get in as much information as I can into the answers I am providing. The tobacco-free Ireland policy is being updated. We are looking at policies in respect of smoking areas for vaping and cigarettes. The tobacco-free Ireland policy is being updated. Some Deputies asked about tobacco industry lobbying in relation to the two forthcoming Bills. That is prohibited. It is prohibited and cannot happen. It is important to say that the reason I wanted to come in today and speak about this is because I have huge concerns about vaping. As has been said, the targeting of younger age groups has been very effective. I want to make sure that this House knows that a great deal of work is being done by the Department, the Minister and me. We are working on this. There are two Bills that will be coming in.”
“Funding was allocated in budget 2025 for a youth vaping prevention media campaign. I am very much working on this. It is all about information, awareness and the media campaign. That campaign is being developed by the HSE. It is intended that it will come into operation by the end of this year. As part of the process, research is being conducted with young people to ensure that the messaging is helpful, effective and relevant for the target audience. This campaign will provide evidence-based messaging to young people and information and support to parents and guardians who are concerned about vaping. It may also contribute to the continuing decline in tobacco use among young people, given the association between vaping and subsequent smoking in adolescence. Reference was made to smoke-free areas.”
“The HSE has submitted a request for funding to establish a pilot service to help people stop vaping. This includes research into the types of support that will be safe, effective and clinically sound for vaping. The request will be considered as part of the broader Estimates process relating to budget 2026. For adults, the HSE provides safe, effective and clinically sound services for those who want to stop smoking. These are both free and easy to access. They have been designed for people who smoke cigarettes and incorporate behavioural support and access to free medicines to help people stop smoking. The adult service is currently able to support smokers who also vape, so it is a dual-user service. It is about stopping smoking, and vaping is including in that. The vaping prevention campaign also came up.”
“The introduction of laws on these products has already been discussed at EU level in the context of a revised tobacco product directive. An EU-wide public consultation was carried out in 2023 to obtain views on the regulation of novel products such as nicotine pouches. I understand people's concerns, but using EU-wide measures is the most effective way to proceed. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has called on the Commission to introduce a revised tobacco products directive as soon as possible and for this to cover all nicotine products, including pouches. It is so important that this information gets out there. Another matter that was raised was that relating to services to help people quit vaping and what is currently in place in this regard.”
“The national environmental health service is responsible for enforcing the legislation that prohibits the sale of tobacco to minors. That is hugely important. Our environmental officers in each county are carrying out a test purchase programme in respect of retailers of tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products using volunteers who are minors. Retailers who are selling to minors will be prosecuted. If nothing else goes out from this debate, it is extremely important that this message does go out. Another way of monitoring this is the new licensing system that will come into force next year. This will also help to monitor vaping shops and will allow us to be aware of what is going on within them. That is really important. Nicotine pouches were referred to. I will explain where we are at the moment.”
“Education came up a lot during the debate, as did how we might deal with the matter in our schools. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in respect of that matter. We are looking at a ban on disposable vapes. I need to get clarification on one point. One Member brought up the fact that he had been speaking to people and discovered that 17 shops had sold vapes to minors. It has been illegal to sell vapes to minors since 2023, so these shops are breaking the law. I hope the HSE has been contacted about this and that the law is being enforced. The shops in question are breaking the law. It is important for us, as legislators, to highlight that. If shops sell to minors, they are breaking the law. Another issue that came up is enforcement.”
“The array of colours and flavours on display seems determined to affect our children. I will be writing to all local authorities to ask them to consider provisions in their development plans that would limit the number of vape shops for which planning permission can be granted in our towns and villages. That is a real priority for me. So many questions were asked by Members. On the proposed legislation relating to vapes and the colours and flavours of vapes, one of the proposals is that we would look at introducing shutters - such as we have with cigarettes - in vaping shops in which vapes of all colours are currently on display. Another proposal is to have a campaign in this regard. As Minister of State, I am very mindful that we have to have an awareness campaign. Information will be crucial.”
“First, I thank everyone for the points that have been raised and for this important debate. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and I are very much aware of the issues of bringing the legislation before the House. Some TDs said we are not moving quickly enough in respect of it, but we are. It is a priority. I assure Members of that. We all want our children to have the best start in life, and that is why it is important that we, as legislators, take action that will make it easier for our children and ourselves to make healthy decisions. As Minister of State with responsibility for public health, tackling the use of vapes is a top priority for me and for the Government. Like many Members, I hear the concerns of parents, teachers and coaches. I also know that the number of these vape shops in our towns and villages is a concern.”
“What we are really saying about vaping is that it should not to be seen as glamorous or normal. I want to see campaigns similar to the one I have mentioned rolled out across the country so the voices of children are heard and the normalisation of vapes among them is tackled. I also want to address the issue of nicotine pouches, which we spoke about earlier. I thank everyone for being here today. Vaping is a very serious issue. From working with the Department officials and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, I am aware that a lot of work is being done. I assure Members that we intend to do a lot more. Our priority now is to get the two Bills into the House as soon as possible. Like the Minister, I will be looking for Members' full support.”
“It will also provide information on prevention strategies and discuss the role of parents in guiding healthy decisions. These are really important to me. In the budget negotiations, I will be seeking funding for programmes targeted specifically at children on the dangers of vaping and nicotine use and that can be controlled nationwide and run through sports and youth clubs and local authorities. I will give an example. In my own area, I attended the launch of the Not Around Us campaign, which was developed by schoolchildren in Carlow–Kilkenny alongside the local councils and through the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme. The message of the children was clear. They want to people to consider the impact of their smoking and vaping on them as children. It is also a matter of second-hand smoking. Smoking should not be normalised.”
“Many people are struggling with addiction as a result of this and similar drugs. As the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, I would like to reassure parents who may be worried about their children and the impact of HHC. Help and support are available. I urge parents to use the HSE's excellent resource on drugs.ie , the parents' guide to alcohol and drugs. It provides factual information and advice on talking to children about the risks associated with illicit drugs. The HSE will also host a webinar in the coming weeks entitled, "Vaping products and psychoactive substances: what you should know as a parent." This event will provide information on HHC and is designed to support parents and guardians who are concerned about vaping and emerging drug trends among young people.”
“We must be effective, and the Minister is working on this, in ensuring we introduce a revised tobacco products directive as soon as possible and for that proposal to cover all new nicotine products, such as pouches, in order to protect our young people. I will take the opportunity to address the issue of HHC, which is a significant problem. Many Deputies were in touch with me about the HHC content of vapes being sold nationwide. HHC was classified as a controlled drug through an order of the Government on 29 July last. HHC is now incorporated into the misuse of drugs legislation framework as a schedule 1 controlled drug, which is the strictest level of control. A lot of work is being done. As a result of the use of HHC, we have seen hospitalisations and psychotic episodes.”
“The results from the European school project on alcohol and other drugs in 2024 show that 3.7% of 15- to 16-year-olds are currently using nicotine pouches, with 7.6% having used them at some point. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is giving ongoing consideration to the possible approaches to the regulation of nicotine pouches. Introducing laws on these products has already been discussed at EU level in the context of discussions on a revised tobacco products directive. An EU-wide public consultation was carried out in 2023 to gain views on regulations on novel products, such as nicotine pouches. The range of tobacco products is always expanding and this is a problem for us.”
“This Bill is also at an advanced stage of drafting and prioritised for publication in this term. These measures cannot come quickly enough and I looking forward to doing my part to ensure that this legislation is enacted as soon as possible and to have the support of this House. Nicotine pouches are a relatively new product. The evidence is not clear yet on their potential health harms but we know that they contain nicotine, which is an addictive substance. However, they have become very visible here in the past two years and are marketed heavily. The use of these products remains low, with an overall 1% of adults currently using them, but I acknowledge that use is highest among the cohort of those aged from 15 to 24, at 3%. They are used by 3% of current smokers and 2% of former smokers.”