The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is aiming to introduce a ban on selling e-cigarettes or ‘vapes’ to people under 18 before Christmas.

This follows the passing of a bill on the issue in both houses of the Oireachtas.

The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will now be sent to the President for signing.

The minister said that he had asked officials in his department to “immediately” prepare the necessary statutory instrument, so that the measure could come into law before Christmas.

Further regulation

A public consultation on the further regulation of e-cigarettes was launched last month, seeking views on a point-of-sale ban, packaging, flavours, and other interventions to decrease the appeal of e-cigarettes for children.

Along with prohibiting the sale of nicotine-inhaling products to under-18s, the bill passed this week will:

• Prohibit the sale of tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products at events for children,
• Prohibit the self-service sale (vending machines) of tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products,
• Introduce a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products,
• Prohibit the advertising of nicotine-inhaling products around schools and on public transport, and
• Provide additional enforcement powers to the Environmental Health Service for measures in the bill and for all previous Tobacco Control Acts.