Press release
Minister for Health makes law for fines for those selling tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products at events for children
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has signed law to apply an on-the-spot fine of €2,000 for the offence of selling tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products at events aimed at children.
In March this year, Minister Donnelly commenced multiple sections of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 to strengthen the protection of children from tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products to come into operation on 23 September 2024.
The measures commenced include a prohibition on selling, or causing to be sold, a tobacco product or a nicotine inhaling product at an event aimed particularly at children, or at which the majority of the participants or audience are children. Minister Donnelly has now signed to law providing for a fixed penalty of €2,000 to be attached to that offence.
These measures form part of the Minister’s overall comprehensive strategy to introduce stricter regulation of nicotine inhaling products and to eliminate the use of tobacco products.
Last week, the government approved the drafting of the Minister’s Public Health (Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill which will regulate packaging, flavours and retail display of vaping products as well as ban single-use or disposable vapes. The Minister will also bring his Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill through the Dail as early as possible in the new term. The Bill will make Ireland the first country in the EU to set a minimum legal age of sale of tobacco products at 21.
Minister Donnelly said:
"I welcome the coming into operation of further provisions of our 2023 Act. I am developing new tobacco control law, bringing law through the Houses and implementing law that has already passed. The urgency is to save lives that are being lost because of a common commercial product that kills.
"I am determined to help smokers to quit, to prevent new smokers being created through experimentation with tobacco products or nicotine inhaling products and to use every means at my disposal to protect the health of our population and especially of our children."
Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke said:
"As Minister with responsibility for Public Health and Wellbeing, I am working with Minister Donnelly on our multiple legislative measures to eliminate this blight on the health of our population. We have led the world on tobacco control in the past and we will continue to forge ahead until we have eliminated this addictive and lethal threat."