Martin says vapes 'revenge of Big Tobacco', supports ban

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has signalled his personal support for an outright ban on vapes while outlining proposals to limit the number of vape shops.

Mr Martin described vapes as the “revenge of Big Tobacco” and said Government should deal with the products in a “stronger way”.

Speaking at the end of the Fianna Fáil think-in in Tullamore, Co Offaly, he said “vapes are nearly worse than cigarettes”.

Asked if he supported a ban on vapes, he said: “Well, I mean, I’m not the minister (for health).”

Pressed on his opinion as Taoiseach, he said: “In my view, products like that that are damaging to health, we should deal with in as strong a manner as possible.”

Mr Martin cited the moment Ireland became the first country to implement a workplace smoking ban in 2004 during his time as minister for health as among his proudest political achievements.

He said the national strategies on smoking, cancer, strokes and cardiovascular health have led to people living much longer.

Watch: Taoiseach signals support for vape ban, says ‘revenge of Big Tobacco’

He said it is “depressing” to see heart and lung diseases “coming around the back door”, and that “the peer evidence out there is these are very damaging”.

The Fianna Fáil leader said there was a view within the parliamentary party that there should be a limit on the number of vape shops.

“A number of deputies said in some streets and towns around Ireland you have a proliferation of them, and from an architectural, presentational, aesthetic point of view, even alone, that’s not very good.

“So, there needs to be some control of that – and then there’s the issue of vapes themselves and what they contain, and the substances and so on that are harmful to human health,” he said.

Mr Martin said that bans on disposable vapes and restrictions on their sale to under-18s are already in place but added: “I personally would like to go further, and there will be further discussions in Government.

“To me, it’s always been the revenge of Big Tobacco.

“It has all the same hallmarks of tobacco: go after the young, get the young addicted.”

He told reporters: “Vapes are nearly worse than cigarettes. In many instances, we don’t know what’s in them.

“They’re damaging to lungs and these are serious issues for society.”

Mr Martin said the Government was also looking at measures related to nicotine pouches.