Results 41-60 of 1,042,069 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Catherine Martin OR speaker:Richard Bruton OR speaker:Verona Murphy OR speaker:Mattie McGrath OR speaker:Niamh Smyth) in 'Committee meetings'
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: I thank colleagues for their time today and for their contributions to the debate, which has been very useful and thoughtful. I note that there appears to be broad support for the Bill. The Government will obviously be supporting it. We have heard from several Independent Members and from the Social Democrats. We will see where other Members and parties in the Opposition are but I want to...
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Thomas Pringle: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I support this legislation and its intention to raise the minimum legal age of sale of tobacco products to 21 in an attempt to accelerate the decline in adult smoking prevalence. Smoking cigarettes has been proven to cause death, ill health and disability. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland, and...
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Deputy Durkan, you were a smoker once upon a time, were you not?
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Bernard Durkan: Yes, indeed, I was a smoker for a long time. Thankfully, I am glad to be able to say that I no longer consume. I welcome the regulation of tobacco sales because the regulation element is important, from all sides. We all received correspondence from various people alleging various omissions from legislation in the past and possible abuses. Generally, however, people welcome the...
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the Government's approval of raising the legal age for tobacco product sales to 21, with the passing of this Bill. This landmark decision marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and secure a healthier future for our youth. First, let us acknowledge the significance of this legislation. By raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products...
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
David Cullinane: We supported that Bill
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Cormac Devlin: Given the comments about this Bill today, it is important to put into context what is being done here. It is to try to decouple the enticement of tobacco and its addictive nature for a cohort. It is based on data and studies. The Minister has outlined it clearly, not only in this House, but also at committee meetings. Equally, on the vapes there are challenges. We all acknowledge that...
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Róisín Shortall: Notwithstanding the limited nature of this legislation, I welcome the Bill to prohibit the sale of tobacco to people under the age of 21 years. The passing of this legislation would make Ireland the first country in the EU to implement a Tobacco 21 policy. There is potential for Ireland to be a leader in this area, but unfortunately the Bill falls short of what is required to effectively...
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Paul Donnelly: Sinn Féin opposes the Bill, as my colleagues have said. I absolutely despise tobacco and vaping products. I have seen too many people die horrible deaths due to cancer and particularly due to tobacco-related illnesses. I wish we could shut down every one of those tobacco companies. I wish that were something we could do. Just like with illegal drugs it would drive it underground and...
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: That is not in the Bill.
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Paul Donnelly: The Minister spoke about enforcement and these are the penalties. This is with regard to people convicted of selling products to those aged under 18. The Minister has spoken about enforcement and increasing the age to 21. Something on which we should really focus is what we do to those selling the products to children and not to adults. It is merely window dressing and being seen to do...
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: It is being done.
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Paul Donnelly: We have to differentiate between children and adults.
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Cormac Devlin: I welcome the opportunity to examine the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024. I thank and acknowledge the work of the Minister and his officials in preparing and pursuing this important legislation, which will increase the legal age for the sale of tobacco products to 21. As we have heard, the objective of the Bill is to protect young people from becoming addicted to tobacco....
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Thomas Gould: We will not support the Bill because it is not the step forward in tackling smoking the State needs. Under-18s smoke and have access to cigarettes. If we are concerned with enforcement, maybe that is where we should be concentrating instead creating a new law that will not be enforceable and will be flouted. With this Bill, we are creating a situation where 18-year-olds can go into a...
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
David Cullinane: I welcome the opportunity to debate this Bill. Its primary purpose is to raise the age of prohibition on the sale of tobacco products to 21 from 1 February 2028. Sections 2, 3 and 7 provide for enforcement measures for the responsible authority, the National Environmental Health Service, to enforce the new age limit. Section 4 amends the placement of the definition of age card. Section 5...
- Teachtaireacht ón Seanad - Message from Seanad (4 Jul 2024)
- Teachtaireacht ón Seanad - Message from Seanad (4 Jul 2024)
Mattie McGrath: Seanad Éireann has passed the Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023 without amendment.
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
- Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Jul 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". I am delighted to introduce the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill, or the smoking 21 Bill as it has been referred to. This is a short Bill with a single substantive measure. It will save thousands of lives in the coming years. We have a long and proud tradition, across all parties, of introducing strong tobacco control measures....