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.”
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“The five permanent members of the UN Security Council have a veto power which can prevent the adoption of resolutions by the Security Council, including those authorising peacekeeping mandates. In practice, even the threat of veto is often enough to halt Council action. Ireland has consistently opposed the use of the veto, as demonstrated during our most recent term on the Security Council from 2021 to 2022, when we witnessed its use on several critical issues. As evidenced by challenges encountered last summer in relation to the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate in southern Lebanon, the threat or use of the UN Security Council veto is a significant complicating factor in sustaining international peacekeeping operations.”
“This is solely the sovereign responsibility of the Irish people. For this reason, the Government does not support the proposal to hold a referendum enshrining neutrality in the Constitution. The policy of military neutrality has been a deliberate policy choice on the part of successive Governments since the Second World War. If passed, this motion would significantly restrict the Government's ability to exercise its policy-making authority with regard to the conduct of external relations as set out under Article 29 of the Constitution. Accordingly, the Government has no plans to bring forward legislation to hold a constitutional referendum on neutrality. We all recognise that the UN Security Council is not effectively fulfilling its primary role of maintaining global peace and security.”
“This does not mean we can isolate ourselves from the international security environment we find ourselves in today. The changing global security context means we have to take our own security and our responsibility towards our like-minded partners more seriously than ever. For this reason, the Government is committed to broadening and deepening Ireland's international security engagement as well as our domestic efforts to ensure the security of our country. We all have to acknowledge that the world as we know it has changed considerably. The international rules-based order is under significant strain and Ireland needs to adapt to this new reality. In a mature democracy like ours, it is important that we have a responsive and considered foreign policy, as we have had since the foundation of the State.”
“I would like to outline what we mean when we talk about Ireland's policy of military neutrality. Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. This policy choice has been practised by successive Governments since the Second World War. The Government has clarified this on many occasions in the past. I am happy to put it on the record again today that we have no plans to alter this policy. Indeed, the Government made this explicitly clear by including a commitment to preserving and protecting Ireland's policy of military neutrality in the programme for Government, as published last year. We did this because we know that Ireland's policy of military neutrality has long been an important strand of our independent foreign policy.”
“Members may be aware that the rotation of our Defence Forces battalion in Lebanon is currently ongoing and expected to be completed by next week. I fully recognise the strong public interest and the deep attachment to Ireland's military neutrality as well as the strength of feeling around this issue. I acknowledge that there are concerns and in some cases misunderstandings about the impact that proposed amendments to the Defence Acts may have on that policy of military neutrality. This includes changes to the provision commonly referred to as the triple lock. However, the Private Members' motion today misrepresents both by linking the proposed reform of the triple lock with Ireland's policy of neutrality and the amendment of domestic legislation with the need for a referendum on the issue.”
“- Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Defence. I thank everyone for raising this issue today. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the important matters raised in this motion. At a time when excellence and the longstanding work of our Defence Forces in UNIFIL has been at the forefront of the public's mind, given the deterioration of the security landscape in the Middle East region and particularly in Lebanon, it is appreciated that we debate how we deploy our Defence Forces overseas. I acknowledge all our Defence Forces personnel who are currently serving overseas. I am mindful of the sacrifices they and their families make in serving their country and the interests of peace.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Government reiterates Ireland's longstanding policy of military neutrality; — Ireland's policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances, or common or mutual defence arrangements and this policy choice has been practised by successive Governments since the Second World War; — the Government reaffirms its commitment to this policy and reiterates that it has no plans to either join a military alliance or enter into a mutual defence arrangement; — in light of the above commitment, the Government does not believe a national referendum on enshrining neutrality into the Irish Constitution is necessary; and — amending the Triple Lock legislation in relation to the deployment of our Defence Forces to peacekeeping missions will have no impact on this policy of military neutrality, and that no other European Union Member State, including other neutral Member States, allow permanent Security Council members to bind their hands in the way that the Triple Lock effectively does for Ireland; recognises: — Ireland's long-standing policy of military neutrality, and our strong tradition of participation in international peace support and crisis management operations over many decades; — that members of Ireland's Defence Forces continue to contribute bravely to peacekeeping and crisis management efforts, particularly in the Middle East, as well as elsewhere in the world; — that the multilateral system remains our strongest protection and the State's most important security asset; — that Ireland's contributions to conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and work for human rights and development, and our efforts to promote disarmament and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, are internationally renowned; — nevertheless, as a highly globalised country, Ireland cannot rely on our geographic isolation for our security, nor isolate ourselves from world events; and — the importance of parliamentary safeguards and national oversight in ensuring Irish military deployments are in line with our policy of military neutrality, and that they are decided solely by the elected sovereign representatives of the people of Ireland; and acknowledges that: — the Government is committed to supporting the global multilateral system, to vocally defend international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and human rights; — in common with other partners in Europe, Ireland finds itself in an increasingly contested, dynamic and volatile international security environment, marked by violence and conflict in our immediate neighbourhood, including Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa; — Ireland, therefore, should not find itself unable to respond to peace support and crisis management operations that align with the United Nations (UN) Charter and International Law, due to a veto by permanent member(s) of the UN Security Council; and — this legislation will remove the power of UN Security Council permanent members to veto our national sovereign decisions regarding our participation in an International Force and will also allow for the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas in other overseas roles such as the crisis management evacuation of Irish citizens.".”
“This has included reductions in the price of diesel and petrol, extension of the fuel allowance season and measures to support hauliers, bus passengers, operators, farmers, agricultural contractors and fisheries. The Government will continue this focus on supporting businesses across Ireland, including pubs, as we develop options for budget 2027. The Department has received and acknowledged the submission from the Vintners Federation of Ireland outlining a proposal for an on-trade sustainability scheme in budget 2027. I thank the Deputy for highlighting this. He can be assured I will go back to the Minister for Finance to highlight his concerns.”
“The Government is taking steps to alleviate these challenges, primarily through work co-ordinated by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on the cost of business and an action plan for competitiveness and productivity. It is important that the Government support businesses, particularly indigenous SMEs, in all sectors of the economy. Actions have already been taken to support the hospitality sector, for example, through the VAT reduction to 9%, which will come into effect from July and will be of huge benefit to pubs selling food and hot drinks. The Government is also prioritising measures to help businesses and households with increased energy costs arising from the conflict in the Middle East.”
“What the Deputy has spoken about is really concerning. He can be assured I will go back to the Minister for Finance. I am aware of the importance of local pubs to Irish culture and the Irish economy, particularly in local and rural areas, which we are both from. Recent years have been challenging to the hospitality sector as a whole, particularly through the period of Covid restrictions. We saw huge changes then. However, those years also demonstrated the resilience and adaptability of businesses. Premises enhanced their outdoor areas and introduced food offerings. It was a big thing to see all the new outdoor areas. Premises adapted to changes in socialising behaviour by introducing new ranges of non-alcoholic drinks, for example, embracing coffee culture. Like all businesses, trade is facing challenges from increased costs.”
“These supports include the employment investment incentive, the start-up relief for entrepreneurs and the start-up capital investment. A range of direct expenditure supports are available to business and details can be found online at the national enterprise hub. Notwithstanding what I have said, the matters raised in the Deputy's submission will continue to inform ongoing policy consideration in the context of the budget. It is with the Minister.”
“While the retail price of beer has risen over that period, the excise duty has remained unchanged and, therefore, the total tax as a percentage of the retail price of each pint is lower than it was more than a decade ago. I assure the Deputy that the Government is conscious of the challenges facing all businesses in the current economic climate. The Cost of Business Advisory Forum is working to look at the structural issues that are driving up costs and the steps that could be taken to mitigate them. It is important to note that we understand the overheads and the way costs have risen for businesses. It is also important to highlight that a number of existing tax supports are available to all business, including the on-trade environment, to encourage investment in the economy, particularly in indigenous SMEs.”
“Additionally, any tax credit given to rural pubs, or, indeed, to all pubs, and which is based on the supplies of alcohol products to those pubs, would have to be considered in the context of the alcohol structures directive if its effect, in practice, were to give relief from the rate of alcohol excise paid on alcohol products. This directive lays down a harmonised approach to excise duties on alcohol in the EU. It defines alcoholic beverages and sets out the basis on which excise duties on such products are to be established by member states, as well as the conditions for the application of reduced rates and special regimes. These are the issues Ministers are looking at. It is worth noting that there has been no general increase in excise duty rates for alcohol since 2014.”
“Measures that confer a selective advantage on a specific sector have the potential to constitute state aid and, therefore, could not be introduced unless compliant with an existing framework or by undertaking a full notification process. It should be noted that the tax credits available for film and digital games are all approved state aids, largely under the terms set out in the EU’s Communication from the Commission on State aid for films and other audiovisual works, which would not have relevance to the on-trade sector. This is what the Minister for Finance has highlighted.”
“I am aware that the Department has received and acknowledged a submission from the VFI outlining a proposal for a payable tax credit for pubs. The proposed payable credit would be linked to the number of draught product kegs purchased by a business, and it would be subject to a per-premises cap of €20,000. Proposals for new tax expenditures are examined by reference to the Department’s tax expenditure guidelines, which outline the Government’s approach to how tax expenditures are best used, noting that these narrow the tax base and how they should be evaluated. A number of issues at a European level will need to be taken into account during these deliberations, including state aid requirements.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and highlighting the role that pubs play in Irish life and culture by providing a central hub and meeting place in towns and villages across the country. The Government’s commitment to the sector was most recently demonstrated by the reduction in the VAT rate to 9%, recognising that the sector is highly labour-intensive. It forms a key part of the domestic economy and is expected to support over 150,000 jobs across the country. We can help to keep the doors open and the jobs going by providing clarity and certainty for these hospitality businesses. I assure the Deputy that while the Department of Finance receives pre-budget submissions from a wide range of stakeholders in advance of each budget, all are given consideration as part of the annual policy cycle.”
“I will go back to the Minister for housing. Clarification is crucial to provide information on what is happening for everyone. I will do that.”
“The Government is mindful of concerns in both rural regions and major tourism regions, where short-term lettings provide much-needed accommodation for visitors, as the Deputy mentioned. However, addressing Ireland's housing needs is a priority, and the Government must use every lever available, including returning some short-term letting properties to the housing market, which may include longer-term rentals. The approach to be taken in the STLT Bill, as well as in the national planning statement, will balance greater housing supply with the need to protect rural and regional tourism jobs. I again thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I am glad to provide him with as much information as I can. He is right that we need to get this finalised. We need to have the draft brought to Cabinet as soon as possible.”
“This is an important matter. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has worked closely with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and is committed to developing a fair and balanced approach to the short-term letting question, which is crucial. As the Deputy said, as a proud Kerryman, he has always highlighted the needs in this area. I absolutely agree. It is about all of the different Departments working together. I believe this will have a good outcome. With the approach outlined earlier, the need for rental housing stock is being balanced with the need to protect rural and regional tourism and jobs, which are important. The long-term development of tourism requires that an appropriate equilibrium is achieved in the short-term and long-term rental sector. Tourism is very important to the economy.”
“However, meeting local housing need across Ireland is a critical consideration and Government must use every lever available to assist in providing homes for our people, including returning properties to the long-term residential market.”
“It considers various factors such as existing planning legislation, the location and potential benefits of the proposed short-term letting property and the overarching aim to balance housing need with the potential impact on tourism and economic development. The NPS is being finalised as a priority and a draft will be brought to Cabinet shortly. That was one of the Deputy's questions. I will go back to the Minister today to find out when this will be brought to Cabinet and signed off. Tourism is important to the economy and the Government is mindful of concerns in both rural areas and in major tourism regions where short-term lettings provide much-needed accommodation for visitors.”
“It is intended that accommodation providers in all other locations outside the largest towns and cities will be able to avail of an extended period to meet planning compliance requirements. To ensure that there is a clear view, at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for short-term lets, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently finalising a national planning statement on short-term letting to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. The NPS will ensure a transparent, consistent overall policy approach, both nationally and at local authority level, to determining planning applications for short-term letting that will complement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill.”
“All short-term letting accommodation providers will be required to register with Fáilte Ireland. As part of the registration process, accommodation providers will need to confirm that they are planning compliant, one of the issues the Deputy mentioned. The Government has approved a threshold-based approach to generally preclude new planning permissions for short-term lets in larger towns and cities where, often, long-term residential housing need is significant. Further to this, the Cabinet committee on housing has proposed that the threshold be set at towns and cities with a population of more than 20,000, amounting to 25 towns based on the most recent census of population.”
“I thank the Deputy for highlighting this important issue. I am taking this on behalf the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has drafted the general scheme of the short-term letting and tourism, STLT, Bill in full alignment with the EU short-term rental regulation, which is what the Deputy is talking about. We have a collaborative approach between enterprise and tourism. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short-term lettings. The Bill, when enacted, will provide a statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all short-term lettings in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland.”
“More generally, I urge all those eligible for any vaccine under the national immunisation programme at all stages of life to avail of the opportunity to be vaccinated. In addition, I encourage all parents to bring their infants into line with the primary childhood immunisation schedule through their GPs for their important childhood immunisations. These measures will help us protect public health by preventing the spread of disease in our community.”
“As I advised, the Minister for Health and Chief Medical Officer are committed to exploring whether it is possible to offer the shingles vaccine to a cohort of immunocompromised individuals in the first instance, in line with NIAC's advice. The Senator will be aware that the HSE has responsibility for implementation of the national immunisation programme in Ireland, which is based on the advice of NIAC. The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. To protect the public from serious outcomes of disease, vaccines which are included in the national immunisation programme are administered free of charge to those who are eligible and at risk.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this. We are all aware that vaccination is recognised as one of the most cost-effective and successful public health interventions that exists saving many lives each year. As discussed here today, shingles can impact anyone who has been infected with chickenpox during their life, leaving a significant proportion of the population vulnerable. Up to one in three people who have had chickenpox will go on to have shingles. This is why the Department requested that HIQA carry out a health technology assessment to review the evidence for adding shingles vaccination to the adult immunisation schedule in Ireland.”
“Earlier this year, the CMO again asked the HSE to conduct a new follow-on assessment of the cost of delivering a vaccine programme. If the HSE can negotiate a more affordable price, it will submit costings to the Department of Health. Furthermore, HIQA has also been asked by the Department of Health to conduct a scoping exercise to establish whether there is any relevant additional scientific information available subsequent to the 2024 HTA. When all this information is available, the Minister for Health will make a decision in relation to the introduction of a targeted shingles vaccination programme. This will require seeking additional funding via the annual budget and Estimates process for 2027.”
“However, it found that it could be cost-effective for vaccination of those aged 75 years and 80 years if the cost of the vaccine were reduced by 80%. In 2025, the Department of Health requested the HSE, which retains full responsibility for the vaccine procurement process, to enter a non-binding negotiation with the manufacturer of Shingrix to determine if the HSE could procure the vaccine at a cost-effective price. The HSE advised that the price quoted by the manufacturer was greatly in excess of the price noted by HIQA as a good use of healthcare resources in their 2024 HTA. The Minister for Health and the Chief Medical Officer are committed to exploring whether it is possible to offer the shingles vaccine to a cohort of immunocompromised individuals in the first instance, in line with NIAC advice.”
“A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about the health technology in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner. The Minister for Health can advise that following a request from the Department, HIQA carried out a HTA on the vaccine, which examined safety and clinical effectiveness. The cost-effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, in addition to the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule. The HTA was published on 19 July 2024. It found that including the shingles vaccine in the routine immunisation schedule at the vaccine price at that time, for all adults aged 65 years and over, would not be cost-effective and would have a substantial budget impact.”
“Currently, a vaccine called Shingrix is available in Ireland and is administered as a two-dose vaccine. Shingrix is more effective than the previously available Zostavax, and can be safely administered to immunocompromised patients. Internationally, it has become the preferred vaccine against shingles. The national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, guidelines state that the vaccine may be considered in those aged 65 and older due to the greater burden and severity of the disease on the postherpetic neuralgia in this age group, and in those aged 18 and older at increased risk of shingles. It should be noted that in advance of any change in policy, the Minister can request that HIQA carries out an evaluation of the impacts of a potential policy change. These evaluations take the form of the health technology assessment, HTAs.”
“I thank the Senator for highlighting this very important matter, which I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Varicella is a common highly infectious disease caused by varicella-zoster virus. The virus is associated with chickenpox and shingles. This virus becomes latent in a body's nervous system and may reactivate after a period, resulting in shingles. Approximately one third of people who have had varicella infection will develop shingles infection at some point, but two thirds occur in those aged 50 years and older. Morbidity associated with shingles increases with age, and the most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia, which is a persistent pain in the area of the rash. This has potential to significantly affect quality of life, activity, mood and sleep.”
“This is an aim that we in Government, the Department of Health, the HSE, and representative bodies all share. Together we want to shape a health service that is resilient, modern and firmly centred on the needs of patients and communities. I want to take this opportunity on International Nurses Day to again place on record my sincere appreciation for the nurses across Ireland. Go raibh míle maith agat.”
“They deserve a safe working environment and it is the Government's responsibility to support this. Nurses work every day in hospitals, community services, mental health, children's health, midwifery, disability, public health and specialist settings. They provide skilled care with compassion and grounded in professionalism. I am sure most of us can remember a time when a nurse provided reassurance and comfort to us in respect of a family member, whether at an appointment, during a hospital stay or ahead of an operation. Their role is truly invaluable and their work makes a profound difference every day. It is important that we are mindful of and remain focused on implementation of policy change that supports a strong and sustainable workforce.”
“Nurses in Ireland are central to reform, innovation and safety. Whether through new models of care, expanding scopes of practice or digital-enabled pathways, nurses are leading innovation across acute community and specialist settings. We are investing in education, supporting students, modernising training and expanding advanced practice. The Government is aware of the challenges that nurses experience at work. Earlier, my colleagues the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, referred to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation survey highlighting the high levels of burnout and stress and the exposure to growing levels of violence and aggression that nurses face. This is a concern for everyone. The survey is a timely reminder that we cannot take our healthcare staff for granted.”
“Our evidence-based approach to safe staffing and evidence-based practice is increasingly recognised across Europe and beyond, reinforcing Ireland's position as a global leader in nursing and midwifery reform. We are so well respected around the world and we are credited for the work that they do. I compliment all our nurses. Our evidence-based approach to safe staffing and evidence-based practice is increasingly recognised and reinforced. We are also making improvements in advanced practices. Over 1,300 nurses and midwives now work at advanced level. This represents 2.7% of the workforce. We are firmly on track to reach the target of 3% of nurses and midwives working at advanced level. We can also look forward to the findings of the national evaluation on the impact of evidence-based nursing and midwifery practices.”
“As mentioned by the Minister for Health earlier, the expert review body on nursing and midwifery continues to provide the blueprint for the future of this profession. Its 47 recommendations present an ambitious programme of reform to further empower nurses and midwives to deliver high-quality care across all settings. These positive impacts of the expert review body are clear. The workforce is benefiting from strengthening leadership and governance structures, from recruitment development to health regions, and from workforce planning based on evidence with a strong focus on staff health and well-being. I also want to acknowledge that Irish nursing and midwifery has a respected and established global reputation. We know we have a huge global reputation.”
“The Government has strengthened the financial support available to student nurses and midwives. There is an enhanced travel and subsistence scheme, a targeted €500 annual meal allowance and additional uniform and laundry supports. We have reinstated the final year internship pay at 80% of the first year staff nursing salary. These measures ensure that no student is left behind because of financial pressures. Everyone who wants to become a nurse and has the skills and dedication should not be held back by costs. We have also delivered the most reforms in nursing education in decades. We have huge reforms. The new NMBI undergraduate standards reflect the reality of modern healthcare, whether it is digital enabled, integrated or community based, and this also aligns with Sláintecare.”
“This growth is the result of sustained investment, with €28.5 million allocated to fund more than 1,100 additional healthcare training places every year for the next three years. Nursing places have increased by 23% since 2020, with a further 275 places secured in Northern Ireland. We continue to work closely with the higher education sector to expand domestic training capacity across all health professions. Increasing numbers is only part of our responsibility to our nurses. We have also introduced supports for student nurses, acknowledging the amount of training time that is spent learning in clinical environments. We recognise that they are learners and students first of all, not employees. It is important that student nurses get the full college experience, immersing themselves in knowledge, research and learning through practice.”
“The actions we are taking are not short-term measures; they are a long-term investment in the health and well-being of our people. We do not, however, underestimate the challenges that nurses continue to face in their day-to-day work. The reality of heavy workloads, staffing pressures and the complexity of modern healthcare is well understood. Addressing these issues requires long-term planning and investment. To address these issues we are expanding the supply of nurses. Ireland now has 14.3 practising nurses per 1,000 head of population, one of the highest ratios in Europe. Over 93,000 nurses and midwives are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the highest number ever recorded.”
“They do so in the most complex clinical environments while also shaping new ways of working that respond to patients' needs, demographic pressures and changing models of care. I want to acknowledge the nurses within my own remit, those working within addiction services, social inclusion healthcare and sexual health clinics, and the nurses who support Healthy Ireland in its work. I thank all the nurses for their work, often with our most vulnerable people and in some very challenging settings. They are crucial to so much of what our health services do. They are the backbone of our health services. I reaffirm the Government's firm commitment to ensuring that Ireland has a strong, sustainable and future-focused nursing workforce.”
“I thank all the TDs who contributed today. Nursing in Ireland is a modern and highly skilled profession built on education, research and continuous professional development. This evening we heard from across the Chamber a shared understanding and deep appreciation of the vital role that nurses play across our health service. There is also a shared commitment to ensuring they are supported. My own daughter is a nurse and I am very proud of her. As a mother and as a Minister of State in the Department of Health I understand and appreciate the importance of our nurses. In supporting our health and well-being, nurses are present at every point of care and at every stage of our lives. They bring skills, care and humanity in an absolutely brilliant way.”
“Our licence system and its fees are designed to reflect the enormous harm. I thank the Senator for highlighting this issue today and I thank the Cathaoirleach for letting me finish.”
“I am working on my second Bill now. In addition, funding for the HSE quit programme has increased from €13 million in 2021 to €21 million in 2024. This includes more than doubling the number of stop smoking clinics and the roll-out of free nicotine replacement therapy in 2022. This led to a record number accessing the quit service and higher rates of successful quit attempts. More shops selling cigarettes and vapes would mean an increase in the risk of young people starting to smoke and of people who have tried to quit relapsing. Smoking kills one in every two smokers and contains the addictive drug nicotine. Sadly, many of those who currently smoke started to do so as children. Smoking causes an enormous range of preventable illnesses and disabilities in addition to its death toll.”
“I thank the Senator for his contribution. There is a long and proud tradition in our country, across all political parties, of introducing strong tobacco control measures. That started with a workplace smoking ban in 2004 introduced by Micheál Martin, and has continued with successive Governments building on that achievement to further drive down our smoking rates. As the Senator will know, Stephen Donnelly was Minister at the time this legislation was brought in, in 2023. We are investing in our efforts to tackle the harms caused by tobacco. We have now approved 30 extra environmental health officers to be recruited in the coming months. This will help with enforcement of the laws around selling cigarettes and vapes to under-18s, as well as our new laws on the packaging and flavours when this measure comes into effect.”
“The licensing system and the fees are designed to reflect the health harms caused by these addictive products but I thank the Senator for raising the issue today. In my remit, this is a health-led approach to this issue. I understand businesses too and we are mindful of the challenges there but when we see the evidence that is here, it is very important for us to have a health-led approach on this. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue.”
“That harm includes almost 1,000 hospitalisations per week, as well as ten new cancers diagnosed every day that are caused by tobacco. When our children smoke, there are additional risks to them. Smoking during childhood and adolescence causes both reduced lung function and impaired lung growth. In relation to vapes, it is generally agreed that although they are likely to be less harmful than tobacco, they are not harmless. An evidence review from the Health Research Board in 2020 found that for adolescents, the use of vapes is associated with an increased likelihood of smoking. In addition, the World Health Organization has recommended since 2014 that sales of e-cigarettes to minors should be banned as there is evidence to suggest that exposure to nicotine can have long-term consequences for brain development.”
“Because sellers must renew the licence annually, this means that our environmental health officers will have up-to-date information on where these products are being sold. This will contribute to efficiency in identifying anyone that is non-compliant. The 2023 Act, including the licensing system, is a public health measure. The nature of the licence and the fees that accompany it are designed to make clear the harmful nature of the products being sold. This is what it is about. It is about health and well-being. Here is the information. Smoking still kills 4,500 of our people every year. This is not the only damage that it does in our country. As highlighted in the recent paper from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, smoking causes more harm here than alcohol, drugs and accidents combined.”
“Any businesses that were registered to sell tobacco were also contacted by the HSE. Prior to the introduction of the licensing system a once-off registration and payment fee of €50 was the only thing that was required to sell tobacco products, with no payment or registration required for those who wished to sell vapes. An annual licence is now required for both. The fee is €1,000 for tobacco products and €800 to sell nicotine-inhaling products. The licensing system will help the important work of the national environmental health service in enforcing our laws on tobacco and vapes, such as the ban on selling to under-18s. I keep saying it is illegal to sell to under-18s and we have to start enforcing that now. That is part of this as well.”
“I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this really important issue today. The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act introduced a licensing system for the retail and sale of tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products such as vapes. This was enacted in 2023, so there was a three-year lead-in period to this measure. The Bill was passed three years ago. The Act has a number of measures that aim to protect the health of our children and denormalise smoking. This is what the Act is for. The licensing system for tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products came into effect on 2 February this year. Retailers that were already selling tobacco products or nicotine-inhaling products were given six months from that date to be become licensed.”