Tobacco Free Ireland

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland. Each year at least 5,500 people die from diseases caused by tobacco use.

Tobacco Free Ireland was launched in October 2013. It sets a target for Ireland to have a smoking prevalence rate of less than 5% by 2025, effectively making the country a tobacco free society.

Tobacco Free Ireland has set out over 60 recommendations which address a wide range of tobacco control issues and initiatives. The full text is below.

On 22 October 2019, the government approved the drafting of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill and the publication of the General Scheme of the Bill. The Government also authorised the referral of the General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health for pre-legislative scrutiny.

The aim of the proposed legislation is to contribute to achieving a tobacco free Ireland by 2025 with particular emphasis on the protection of children and the denormalisation of smoking. The proposed legislation will introduce a licensing system for the sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products and place restrictions on the sale of these products, such as the prohibition on the sale of nicotine inhaling products by and to under persons under 18 years.

The full text of the General Scheme and the Regulatory Impact Analysis can be accessed below.