Government considers ban on vaping in cars carrying children

The Government would consider introducing a ban on vaping in cars carrying children, similar to legislation currently planned in the UK, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

Under new proposals by British health secretary Wes Streeting, the prohibition on vaping in vehicles carrying minors would extend to playgrounds and areas outside schools.

Mr Martin, as health minister in 2004, introduced the world’s first blanket ban on smoking in the workplace.

Speaking to reporters in Cork, he said he would favour a similar ban in Ireland.

“I’ve a very low tolerance threshold for vapes, to put it mildly,” he said.

“I believe they represent the revenge of Big Tobacco. When we took them on on cigarettes, we made significant inroads, denormalised cigarette smoking for young people, and vapes have come (in) now.

“What worries me about vapes is they came onto the market and onto shelves without any proper health assessment in terms of the impact upon young people’s health, and on people’s health more generally.” 

Mr Martin said there was now a significant amount of research being published globally which showed vaping was extremely harmful.

“They’re very bad, they’re not good for people, and they can damage your health, and we are very concerned about it,” he said.

“Legislation is coming in, [minister for state at the Department of Health] Jennifer Murnane O’Connor is bringing legislation on vapes, we’ll get that through, and we’ll keep it under constant review in terms of what further measures we can take to deal with it.” 

The proposed British legislation would also see smoking banned outside hospitals and other health facilities, although vaping would be permitted in those spaces, to facilitate smokers trying to quit.

Outdoor areas close to pubs and restaurants would be exempt, as would what are described as “wide-open public spaces”.

The UK plan, which is subject to consultation, would not prevent people from smoking in their homes or private outdoor spaces.

That consultation will consider how outdoor boundaries will be set, Mr Streeting has said, and will consider possible exemptions, with a view to making the rules workable and proportionate.