The Tánaiste said a law banning the sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 will help improve the lives of young people, reports RTE.
Micheál Martin said vaping was “very dangerous, particularly for young people,” reports RTE.
Health Secretary Stephen Donnelly is presenting the final bill to Cabinet for approval this morning and the bill is expected to be passed before the summer recess.
The new law will limit the types of retailers who are allowed to sell nicotine inhalation products.
The Tánaiste said the legislation was “important in making sure future generations of young people don’t get attracted to vaping”, reports RTE.
“In many ways I see vaping as the revenge of the tobacco industry in terms of getting people hooked on nicotine again,” he added, reports RTE.
Treasury Secretary Michael McGrath said the use of e-cigarettes by under-18s is a loophole “that needs to be closed”.
“If we’re to be honest about it, e-cigarettes are too prevalent among young people,” he said on his way into the Cabinet meeting, reports RTE.
Dr Emmet O’Brien, speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland program, said the concern is not that people are using e-cigarettes to quit smoking, but that children are using e-cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Separately, Education Secretary Norma Foley will submit a memo to Cabinet beginning the delivery of counseling services in elementary schools in seven counties across the country.
Around 5 million euros are earmarked for this pilot programme.
Meanwhile, the Tánaiste will also seek government approval for all state agencies to be based in a place in London called Ireland House, reports RTE.
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