The sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s is to be banned under new legislation.
People under that age will also no longer be allowed to sell tobacco products or vapes.
The Health Minister's proposals will also see restrictions on where cigarette vending machines can be located.
It will also introduce a licensing system, better reflecting the serious nature of the product being sold - with enforcement tools like fixed penalty notices and powers to name and shame non-compliant retailers.
Minister Simon Harris says the war against tobacco isn't over with hundreds of thousands of deaths each year, and an annual cost to Irish Society of over 10.5 billion euro in terms of healthcare, and productivity.
6,000 deaths a year are caused by smoking. Tobacco use costs Irish society a €10.7bn annually. It remains one of the greatest challenges for public health. I am bringing forward a new law in Sept to ban sale of cigarettes from vending machines & at locations aimed at children
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 29, 2019
