Government to Ban Sale of Disposable Vapes and Address Gaza Conflict at Cabinet Meeting
Dublin: The Irish government is poised to ban the sale of disposable vapes, with the Cabinet expected to give Health Minister Stephen Donnelly the green light to draft legislation that would prohibit the sale, manufacture, and import of all forms of vapes in Ireland. Minister Donnelly has emphasised the need for this ban, citing both environmental and public health concerns. He pointed out that improper disposal of plastic and batteries from these products is harming the environment, while nicotine inhalation products, particularly those with flavours appealing to children, pose significant health risks.
In addition to banning products that exceed the maximum allowed nicotine content of 20 mg, the legislation will also target flavoured nicotine inhaling products, which have an estimated 15,000 flavour combinations. The new law will restrict the advertising of vaping products to specialist outlets and introduce limitations on colourful packaging, which has been seen as attracting younger consumers.
The Cabinet meeting will also address international issues, including the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin is expected to provide an update on the Gaza ceasefire talks. Ireland is expected to support a ceasefire agreement being brokered by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar. Furthermore, Martin will ensure the continued operation of Ireland’s diplomatic office in Ramallah and affirm the presence of the country’s 268 UNIFIL peacekeepers in the region.
On the domestic front, the Cabinet will also discuss plans to increase the number of general practitioners (GPs) in Ireland. Currently, there are seven GPs per 10,000 people, and the government aims to increase this figure to between nine and ten GPs per 10,000 people in the coming years, as part of efforts to strengthen the healthcare system.
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