The Institute of Public Health (IPH) is today appearing before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health to give evidence on the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019. IPH Director of Policy Dr Helen McAvoy joined Professor Des Cox from the Royal College of Physicians Ireland (RCPI) Tobacco Policy Group to give evidence on this proposed legislation. 

IPH and RCPI previously submitted joint written positions on this legislation in January 2020 and in June 2021. Today IPH has welcomed this proposed legislation on tobacco and nicotine inhaling products as ‘proportionate’, based on sound principles and evidence, and complementary to the existing suite of tobacco control legislation and Tobacco Free Ireland policy. 

In an opening statement to the Joint Committee on Health, the Institute said the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019 will make both tobacco and e-cigarettes less accessible to children and enhance government oversight on the supply of these products.