Paul Donnelly
Dublin West · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“It is bizarre that the State does not fund digital devices. What is the point of free school books when people have to find hundreds of euro to pay for devices? In a country that is home to most of the largest IT and social media companies in the world, surely, we must be leading the way in terms of technology in our schools.”
“I welcome the motion. The matter to which it relates is something in respect of which Sinn Féin has been campaigning consistently for many years. There is no doubt that costs are rising and putting families under severe pressure over the summer months.”
“This matter needs to be addressed. A letter from the Minister, however nicely worded, has simply not worked. We are often told that Ireland is a world leader in terms of quality educational systems. What we need is fair and equitable access to the education system for all of our children and young people.”
“What this House does in terms of regulation and ensuring the companies driving all of this do so in the proper way and are monitored, with proper due diligence done on how AI impacts society, is very important. We know AI has positive impacts but it also has extremely negative impacts.”
“I met with the parents of Grace Lynch. I commend them on their advocacy on road safety and tackling scramblers and illegal e-bikes and scooters. On Monday, hundreds of residents in Hartstown marched around Hartstown Park to highlight the issue of antisocial behaviour, scramblers and illegal e-bikes in the parks.”
“I welcome the Bill and the opportunity to speak on it. It is critically important. AI is something we use every single day, whether we know it or not. Many of the applications we use have a major component of AI. In many areas it has a really useful purpose. Students and workers use it, and people in here use it on a daily basis.”
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“Banning young people from social media and then keeping them off social media sounds like a good thing and sounds easy. However, is that fair? Is it the right thing to do? I think we need much more conclusive evidence on social media than we currently have. We have talked about the algorithms and that is the critical piece of information. Not once has the Government mentioned tackling the social media companies' algorithms. Do we need to do something around young people and their seeing experience? Absolutely, but here is where it gets tricky because that would mean holding social media companies to account for their algorithms.”
“Most of us are online daily for work, social interactions, connection, booking tickets, and reading. The list of what we do online is endless. It has been an incredible tool for the world. However, like everything else, there is a downside, and we know these downsides. We cannot say that we do not. The online companies, especially social media companies, are too big and powerful for most governments. Two or three social media companies dominate the sector and that is not good for society. I have listened to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Members, and Government Independents, and I agree with virtually everything they said, but here is the challenge: are they big enough to stand up to the companies? I do not think they are because they have not so far.”
“Dog welfare should also be looked at on a cross-Border basis. We need to bring the whole island into line with best practice for our dogs because we cannot have a situation on the island of Ireland where there is more than one set of legislation, as bad practices will just move to the other side of the Border. We must ensure that we work on a cross-Border basis so that all dog welfare legislation is co-ordinated.”
“If we multiply that by each dog having up to six puppies, that is 1:175, which is unimaginable. Dog rescue facilities must be properly funded and resourced to cater for and continue to do the amazing work they do for dog welfare and highlighting the responsibilities that come with being a dog owner. We must end the process of cruel breeding practices and so-called puppy farms. There must be an urgent review of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act and legislation and guidelines must be strengthened. The cruel practice of female dogs being reared as puppy machines is inhumane and must stop. We support the intention of the Dog Welfare (Amendment) Bill. We believe that Deputy Whitmore's Bill will improve animal welfare standards for dogs and end some of the cruel practices that occur on these puppy farms.”
“They were left with multiple scars from C-sections and some were so ill-treated that they were matted with their own faeces and they had to be sedated to be groomed and to enable them to give birth. Let us imagine the trauma that would have on the mother and the pups inside her. We would be horrified to think of that happening to our own dogs. The Dog Breeding Establishments Act introduced in 2010 only makes it a legal requirement for any facility with six or more breeding dogs to be licensed through the local authority. There is no cap on the number of breeding dogs that a facility can have. That is just unbelievable. At the moment, legislation also states that the ratio of staff to dogs in kennels must be 1:25. That is one person for 25 adult dogs.”
“I am sure if I were to ask everyone in here to raise their hands, including the kids in the Gallery, if they do not like dogs, those who do so would be in the minority. Sadly, we lost our Cosmo, a 12-year old husky, five weeks ago. The house feels empty without her. When I get up in the morning or I walk into the house, I do not hear the patter of feet or hear her. We are a nation of dog lovers, but right under our nose we know that dogs are being mistreated, abused, used and discarded. Yesterday, we heard horrendous stories of female dogs arriving into the care of Dogs Trust expecting a fifth or sixth litter, although they were barely puppies themselves. I cannot believe that somebody would allow a six-month old dog to go through that. It is absolutely horrendous.”
“Imagine the outrage in society if a child went to Temple Street or the new children's hospital and the doctors said they could not fix the child's broken leg because it did not have the staff, so the child should come back in 72 months. It would bring the Government down. If it is unacceptable for young people in that case, why is it not unacceptable for children with different abilities and specific needs? We need to stop the excuses and end the waiting lists. Those children need that support and they need it now.”
“It is just a group of parents who are coaches. We do our best to provide some fun and a chance for the kids to play and meet each other. I meet those parents all of the time. I know the hurt, pain, stress and anxiety they go through because the waiting list for the CDNT for Blakestown is 72 months. They get the assessments but where are the supports they require? They are virtually non-existent. The CDNT acknowledges that it is short-staffed and loses staff after a few months. Unfortunately, that means the process has to start all over again when these staff have built up relationships. The parents do not want hear any more reasons for this. They just want the problem solved. They want the supports they and their children need when they need it.”
“I commend the amazing strength and determination of Cara Darmody. Her continued campaign brings her back to the Dáil for 50 hours this week in a miserable, cold December. Unfortunately, I think she will be given the same promises that other Ministers have given her previously. I genuinely hope they are not false promises. Why do I call these false promises? The fact Cara has come back to camp outside Kildare Street again is not because she enjoys sitting outside in the freezing cold, in the wind and rain, but because this Government has failed and failed again. It is a bit like the housing plan we were talking about last week. There is another new Minister and another new plan. The CDNTs have failed to provide adequate support for our children who need supports. I coach a group called the falcons in St. Peregrines.”
“Three hundred people applied for around 60 houses. Despite the cost, they are all massively oversubscribed. Despite this bad news for those in housing need, Sinn Féin will continue to campaign for and champion the needs of all those without a home of their own. The Government's developer-led policy, which hands hundreds of millions of euro to profitable developers, is sickening in a cost-of-living crisis. Sinn Féin will work with builders to build public houses on public land with public money. That is where the solution lies, not in another failed Government strategy.”
“In one single school in Dubai, there are 50 Irish teachers. I have spoken to some of them and they talk about coming home. They wonder how they are going to find somewhere to live and how they are going to survive in a cost-of-living crisis when they come home - if they come home. A teacher contacted me just today. Schools in Dublin West have had to cancel subjects, with children unable to take their favourite subjects, because there are not enough teachers and they cannot afford to live in Dublin West. I mentioned gardaí today. We had a net increase of one garda in the K district. Why would a garda stay in Dublin when rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Dublin West is €1,400 to €1,600 and a house is €2,200 to €2,500? So-called affordable housing in Dublin West costs over €400,000. That is if they even get on the list.”
“Stay in school, go to college, get the degree and the master's, get the job, buy a home and maybe have a family if you want"? Those dreams have turned into a nightmare for a generation of people.”
“My office and our council have seen a dramatic rise in the number of those receiving notices to quit, meaning more and more children are going into homelessness. If the Minister does not believe me, just have a look at the statistics. Every single month, month on month, it is increasing. The gouging of the funding for the tenant in situ scheme, where the council would buy the homes of those facing evictions, is an absolute disgrace. The scheme is one of the things that actually was working and preventing children and families going into homelessness. This week, I was contacted by a mother with two adult children in a two-bedroom apartment. She is a professional who worked hard and did the right things. You know when the Government said, "Do the right thing.”
“I have listened to the speeches over the last little while and I find it incredible. Fine Gael has had 15 years and it is talking about another new plan on the abandoned plan on top of the other abandoned plan it had prior to that, which created nothing. It is absolutely scandalous to listen to the Government because it is not a new plan. It is reheated, repackaged and has already failed three times to deliver genuinely affordable and social homes. What is shocking is that the Government is now actually underestimating the number of homes required by 20%. There has been no increase in social housing funding or targets and this means homelessness will rise and council lists will continue to get worse.”
“People are quite rightly asking why the Government chose to end energy payments if its own experts said that people would be worse off? The answer to those people is quite simple: they were facing an election and that is what you do during elections, is it not? Winter has started and there is no doubt that it is colder than it was last year. The Government can choose to help hundreds of thousands of people who are in energy poverty and many more who are going to be facing into energy poverty in 2026. It can choose to change its mind and bring back energy supports while planning for legislation to strengthen the energy regulator and tackle energy price gouging. That is the Government's choice over the coming weeks and months. I urge it to make that choice. Too many people are really struggling.”
“I can assure Members that their executives and shareholders have no fear about sticking on the heating today. Sinn Féin has produced a number of proposals, including legislation to strengthen the energy regulator's power to do its job properly and hold energy companies to account. Fairness and affordability should be at the heart of Ireland's energy market rather than profiteering. Until such reforms are implemented to bring down prices for people, the Government should have continued to provide electricity energy credits. Emergency supports should not have been withdrawn precisely as Ireland's energy crisis is deepening. Taking away support when prices are sky-rocketing is not only cruel, but it proves yet again how cynical many of the commitments made by the Government parties during the election were.”
“Energy costs are driving people into energy poverty. What does it look like? It is less for food, clothes and bills. It is the choice between eating or heating. For working families, older people and people with disabilities, it is about hesitating to turn on the heating for fear of the bills coming through. People on low incomes are the worst affected. The Minister's Department said that people would be €321 worse off, yet incredibly the Government chose to give developers €230 million in tax breaks for apartments they are already building rather than helping people who are struggling. The Government has chosen to allow energy companies, in the words of the Taoiseach, to gouge our citizens. When prices around Europe started to fall, energy companies in Ireland increased prices and also recorded record massive profits.”
“Sinn Féin has produced a garda recruitment and retention policy document. Will the Taoiseach ensure the Minister will address the huge shortage of gardaí in Dublin West? It is affecting our community.”
“Dublin West is one of the fastest growing areas in Dublin. It has a population of over 130,000 people and one of the busiest garda stations in the K district. A few weeks ago, another group of gardaí were attested in Templemore training centre. Despite the expectation that a significant number of these gardaí would be sent to Dublin West, only five were assigned. To make matters worse, my understanding is four experienced members were assigned or promoted, which means we have a net gain of only one garda in the entire area. While I understand it is not the Minister's role to assign gardaí, does the Taoiseach not agree that this will impact on community safety? Garda recruitment to areas like Dublin West is at a virtual standstill. The Taoiseach and the Minister have a role in ensuring communities feel safe.”
“I just cannot believe that we are still here and that those people cannot look forward to Christmas knowing that this has been sorted out. I appeal to the Minister on a human level to make sure that this is dealt with and that these people get what they deserve, which are the homes they paid for.”
“I was explaining the pyrite and mica issue to them and they just could not believe that this was happening in this day and age and that these issues, which go back years, have still not been resolved. Even with all of the issues that we are talking about here in relation to this Bill, we still do not have 100% redress. It is still the case that families that cannot rest their heads on a pillow tonight and say it has been sorted. Financial costs have been imposed on these families, as has been said, through absolutely no fault of their own. This was nothing to do with them. They did everything in good faith. They did what they were supposed to do and yet they are still left in this situation where they do not have 100% redress. I have listened to the TDs from Donegal, such as Pearse and Pádraig.”
“It was a free for all that allowed developers and builders to pretty much do what they wanted, with all of the self-regulation. We know the reasons we have got to where we are. I know people in Donegal and I have seen some of the ways this has affected people. I was explaining this to someone the other day. Even in my constituency to this day, I have met a number of families in a brand new estate where they feel that there are building defects or there are issues within their development. Seventy-three families will be moved out of these brand new houses they moved into less than six months ago. They have paid upwards of €500,000 for these houses. They are being remediated but we are still dealing with building defects. I find it incredible that in this day and age these issues are ongoing.”
“I have not spoken on this issue before but I have listened to so many debates on it over the period of time. It struck me today when I was looking at the update to the Bill and the background to it. It reminds me of when we had issues with pyrite in my constituency. It was one of the first areas where it was discovered that pyrite was affecting homes. I know it is a completely different defect that they had, but they went through some really difficult times. I know some of the families in Dublin West who were utterly distressed over the issue of pyrite and how it was going to be remedied and how they were going to get support. We still have other, different defects in apartment blocks in Dublin West and across the country that are down to very poor building construction and very poor oversight by local authorities and the Government.”
“We need to impose sanctions on Israel because anything less is saying to the Israelis they can continue with their genocide, with destroying Gaza, with taking over as many homes and land as they want because we will sit by and watch.”
“I listened to the Taoiseach yesterday talk about Russia and Ukraine and if he had just switched the words to "Israel and Palestine" imagine the difference that would make to what is going on, because he talked about everything that is also happening on a massive scale in Palestine and Gaza. There was no distinction between goods and services in the promises made by the Government prior to the election and I say that because it has changed its tune again. This is about Israel being allowed act with impunity and that impunity must end. If we do not act now against the genocidal apartheid regime in Israel, the Government’s words on Ukraine will be hollow. The Government must pass the Bill without any further delay and it must include services.”
“I extend my solidarity to the people of Palestine. We have watched in absolute horror the genocide inflicted on the people of Gaza. It is important to note that despite the ceasefire taking place, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by this brutal Israeli military machine backed by weapons supplied by America. We have watched in growing horror the violence of Israeli settlers backed by the Israeli army, the police and the judiciary. The confiscation of homes and land is growing at a frightening pace and children are being murdered weekly trying to defend their land and their homes. That is why it is so frustrating to listen to the Minister of State’s speech.”
“I also want to mention the likes of Foróige, Jigsaw Youth Mental Health, Dublin 15 Community Drug Team, Tolka River Project and the Recovery Café. There are so many people out there who are doing incredible work and who are all looking for extra funding. I also want to give a shout out to all the GAA coaches, soccer coaches, teachers, cricket coaches and all of those who are helping and who, in many cases, do so on a voluntary basis. They do just incredible work helping and supporting young men in particular. We have to be so conscious that when we are talking about funding, we mean adequate funding. Otherwise, people are going to die.”
“I want to give a shout out to a couple of people. I refer to Gerry Murray and Gerry Kavanagh who opened a wellness cafe in St. Brigid's hall in Blanchardstown. We were there recently. Those involved with the cafe do incredible work for absolutely free. They get no money other than a little from the HSE. They pay for a lot of what is done out of their own pockets. They do incredible work. I have raised Genesis mental health services, a counselling service, in the House on many occasions. With just a relatively small amount of funding, Genesis could double the number of people it sees for counselling. It has had to close its waiting list because things are so bad, which shows the level of need that is out there.”
“There are a couple things that are really stark in the Movember report. One is that 46% of men from deprived or disadvantaged areas are more likely to die prematurely compared to women living in the same communities. I know the report is 15 years old but, most shockingly, it shows that a lot of work needs to be done. Among male members of the Traveller community, there is a life expectancy of 61.7 years. That is 15 years lower than the life expectancy among member of the general male population. It is stark for such a small community to have such a level of life expectancy, and a lot of suicide. The rate of suicide among members of the Traveller community is seven times that of the general population. It is important to highlight that fact. Our mental health services are operating on a shoestring.”
“Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party and Fine Gael (United Ireland) must use their platform as members of the Government to plan and prepare for unity today. That means establishing an all-Ireland citizens' assembly on a united Ireland, producing a plan towards a united Ireland and working to secure a date for unity referendums as provided for by the Good Friday Agreement. Talking about it is good but we need to see action and it is time for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to get together and work with everybody who wants to see a united Ireland. They need to actually work for it, not just talk about.”
“There is a huge responsibility on the Government to do the political, economic and social ground work for a successful transition to a united Ireland. Not to do so would be utterly reckless and shameful. I have participated in many elections. I have never witnessed the conversation on Irish unity that has been so central to the debate in this presidential election. It is happening in real time and we need to be proactive. The momentum is building. The direction and pace of travel points firmly towards unity. There is an onus on everybody, particularly those in political leadership, to plan for Ireland's future and to seize the enthusiasm and immense opportunity that reunification offers to all our people.”
“Our motion is about asking everyone who believes in a united Ireland to step up to the plate, to become persuaders for unity and to demonstrate the responsible, mature and ambitious leadership required to achieve a future in a united Ireland. I listened to the Minister of State's speech. I have heard Minister after Minister and the Taoiseach dodging their responsibility to the Irish people, North and South. Fortunately, the Government cannot continue to hide, deflect and run away from the debate. The Irish people are moving ahead of it. As someone who has spent most of my life campaigning for a united Ireland, I have no doubt that we are on the final length of the journey towards reunification.”
“We have the resources. We know it operates in Britain. We know it works, but we do not have such a unit here. It is time to ask the Minister for justice to sit down with senior gardaí to establish an anti-scrambler unit, sort out this legislative clarity and get dealing with this problem. What is happening at the moment is not working.”
“My community and many others throughout the State are being terrorised by scramblers every day, driving on our roads, our paths and in our parks. I have consistently called for the establishment of an anti-scrambler unit that is trained and resourced to deal with this scourge. The Minister for justice refuses to do it and kicks the can down to senior gardaí, who then kick the can back to him. I will give one example. Drones are used in conjunction with anti-scrambler units by British police. An Garda Síochána has had a unit trained since 2023, but it will not use it because of a lack of legislative clarity. However, I can get a coffee or fast food delivered in the same area by a private company. I find it bizarre, at a time when our communities are being terrorised by scramblers, that a unit has not been established here.”
“I want to know if any civilian delivering aid to Gaza is harmed, that the international community will hold Israel to account. Words mean a lot, but actions mean even more.”
“I hope with all my heart that there will be a deal and there will be genuine peace for the Palestinian people but I fear that this so-called "deal" is just another false dawn for the people of Gaza and also for the people of Palestine. I will not use the Israeli propaganda of hostages or prisoners; I will use the word "hostages" for both Palestinian and Israeli hostages who are being held. Palestinian children, adults and women, in their thousands, are being held as hostages by the Israelis. The Israeli Government has broken every deal and every ceasefire with no repercussions. I fear we will see this deal exploited by the Zionist regime to use it as a cover to continue its genocide. I wish to extend my solidarity to the Global Sumud Flotilla and wish it a safe journey.”
“We rightly call for the upholding of international law and human rights, but not for the Palestinian people. Why are they denied the same rights, supports and sanctions from the USA, Britain and the EU? Those who dare to lecture the world on human rights and international law, the so-called "upholders of international laws on human rights" and of so-called "western values", all stand exposed as the liars and hypocrites that they are. They say that there will be no deal on Ukraine without Ukrainian people. That is absolutely correct, but the Tánaiste said in his speech as well that there should be no deal in Syria without the people of Syria. Where is the cry for no deal on Palestine and Gaza without the Palestinians?”
“There are times when we are lost for words. We see the absolute horrors being inflicted on the people of Palestine on our screens every day. It is hard to watch but we must continue to share these stories. Children and babies are starving to death. Israeli snipers are shooting children in different parts of their bodies - sometimes at their hearts, sometimes at their heads and sometimes at their genitals - just for fun or for target practice. I watched last night, on a video, a young boy aged approximately ten or 11 running away from the Israeli advance in Gaza. He could not understand why he could not breathe and he did not realise he had been shot in the neck as he was running away. The Taoiseach is meeting today with EU leaders. We rightly condemn Russia and sanction it, ban leaders and support the Ukrainian people.”
“I appreciate that. When will details of the seed funding be announced? It was in the programme for Government. Also, Rethink was awarded a five-year €4 million contract for delivering social innovation supports without any public tendering. Maybe we could find out, because no other sectoral bodies could apply for it, why the contract was not the subject of a public tender.”
“It is one of things. When we are talking about social enterprises, we look at it maybe in the older context of social enterprises about what we do and getting people into employment. This is new. It is innovative. One of their key asks that struck me when I visited related to seed or capital funding. Those involved would have never got the capital funding - it cost over €2 million - if it were not for a really innovative way of getting that funding. There is a lot to cover and, unfortunately, I have only five minutes. I could literally talk for a lot longer, but I will give way to my colleagues. There are a couple of quick questions I would like to ask. In the programme for Government-----”
“It has only opened up in the past few months. It, too, is a phenomenal space for the people of Tallaght. I desperately want one in Blanchardstown. There should be one in every constituency. It is a hub. An old factory where electronic equipment was being produced has been transformed. The company that owned it closed down. When it did so, those involved with the Priory Market looked at the space and asked what could they do with it. They have redesigned it to cater for those who produce and sell artisan food and drink. It has its own brewery. Local people are involved. One hundred and thirty people are employed there. They have their own businesses, all within the Priory Market, and they provide a range of foods. I can attest to the fact that the food is absolutely outstanding. I have not tried the beer, but the food is outstanding.”
“Something like this provides an opportunity to make a difference in communities. Not only that, but it shows the community what we do. We are very much in a throwaway society. Washing machines and other appliances nearly are designed to last only two or three years. We need to get away from that, so we need the necessary facilities. Social enterprise gives us that opportunity, not only to provide employment, training and education but also to provide good-quality jobs. It also helps the environment in the context of the climate measures that we need to put in place. It is something that needs to be supported. It also needs to be replicated. Every area should have a rediscovery centre. Another social enterprise which I visited is the Priory Market in Tallaght. I do not know whether Deputies have been there recently.”
“It is about getting things, for example, something as simple as the flags that are up here at the weekend that Dublin City Council put up along the quays, and making them into handbags, shopping bags, etc. It is innovative use. They also do a lot of education courses and workshops, working with local communities in the Ballymun and wider area. When you look at the rediscover paint piece, for example, and we are talking about the circular economy and working with people, people bring their paint to their recycling centres. The centres get the paint and they have the facilities and the people, who they train, upskill and employ, to reuse it. People can then buy it as cheap as a tenner for 10 l. Everybody knows the cost of paint. It is a hell of a lot more expensive than that.”
“There are a number, even in my constituency, such as Phoenix FM, Base centre and Huntstown resource centre where, if he ever visits, the Minister of State will get a nice breakfast and a cup of tea. I also visited a couple of others that struck a chord with me in terms of how we can grow and develop the social enterprise sector, which covers a multitude of different policy areas and areas that we need to discover. For example, the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun is an incredible place. It has research and education. It has: an eco store; rediscovery paint; the Boiler House Café; Rediscover Furniture, which is about upcycling; and Rediscover Fashion, which also is about upcycling.”
“I welcome the opportunity to discuss social enterprise policy. I appreciate the updates the Minister of State provided. I will have a good look at his statement. Sometimes, it can be difficult to ingest what a Minister of State is saying across a 25-minute contribution. Social enterprises are an important part of our communities. They need support to help them to flourish and grow. I hope the policy will develop into a framework of the practical, namely how to set up and how to run social enterprise. I am interested in the piece around the LEOs, which I had not heard previously. That is something that needs a little more investigation on my part because it could be very useful. In my role as Sinn Féin spokesperson on social enterprise, I have had the honour of visiting many social enterprises across the city.”
“They may have successfully weaned themselves off cigarettes but they are still addicted to nicotine through vapes. Let us give them the support to be able to come off those products as well. I will raise a matter that is very worrying. I see this because lobbies from tobacco companies come in regarding some of this legislation. They are using vapes as a product alongside cigarettes. They are looking at a reduction in the number of people smoking and are seeing this new product as a way of keeping in business. I really worry about that. These are very powerful, strong and profitable companies. It is something we need to keep an eye on.”
“There will be no advertisement, the person will take your money, press a button and the cigarettes will come out, yet right in front of you, where the sweets are, you will see vapes. They are right where the sweets are. Again, if that is not targeted at children, then I do not know what is. We need new legislation but we also need inspections. We need the HSE to clamp down on these. The other part of it is the HSE does not have any vaping cessation programmes. None. There is no funding and there is no capacity within the HSE. Somebody who is addicted to nicotine through vapes has nowhere to go and has no supports. At the moment, the HSE has no funding for that. I encourage the Minister of State to look specifically at vaping. We are talking about young people in particular, but there are also older people who want to get off nicotine.”
“Unfortunately, in 2024, which was when the most recent report was compiled, and Deputy Graves talked about a figure of 18%, the rate was 17%. That neatly correlates with the time we saw a surge in vapes. The question we need to ask is whether these vapes are really contributing to a reduction in smoking or is it that we are just creating a new generation of people who are being enticed into it? As I said, when it comes to adults, they can make the choice. If it is their choice, vapes have a place in smoking cessation, but we do not need to have them in such flavours and in packaging that is encouraging others. We need one other thing, similar to cigarettes. Any number of times you walk into a shop, you will see a counter of cigarettes at the back.”
“It probably reflects the sales of one shop in a week, given the number of sales at the moment. Unfortunately, we need regulation. When you read in the report what is in the vapes, it is really shocking. One vape claimed to be nicotine free was found to contain nicotine. In this regard, we talk about HHC. It is really worrying that young people are getting their hands on these vapes. To be honest, nobody knows what is in them or their long-term effects. There is no doubt but that the packaging, colours and flavours of vapes are designed to target young people. There is absolutely no doubt about it because we see them. Anybody who walks will see children in school uniforms vaping. To me, that is deeply worrying. In 2013, the Government said the target for smoking cessation was to reduce the proportion of smokers to 5%.”
“I also welcome the tightening of the legislation but we do need to see it. We need to see it implemented. Everybody has a concern about vaping, particularly among young people. Adults have a choice and free will, and if their vaping is part of smoking cessation I absolutely welcome it and believe it to be important; however, as we have already heard, the manner in which vapes are marketed and sold is an issue. I have noted flavours other than those mentioned, including cherry cola and Skittles. If these are not directed at children, I do not know what is. Unfortunately, there are very few inspections happening. A report produced by The Journal states 3,500 vapes have been seized from shops by the HSE for breaching regulations since the start of 2024. That is an absolute drop in the ocean.”