On 2 January, I very happily celebrated 19 years without cigarettes. I did not vape; I do not think there were any vapes at that stage. If there were, they were very new. I was lucky and did not use chewing gum. I relied heavily on licorice all sorts, crisps and anything else I could get my hands on. The important thing is that I managed. Regrettably, I smoked my first cigarette - if my mother was alive she would burst me - when I was 11 years of age, nearly 12, which was not good. I was a very committed and dedicated smoker for a long number of years. One of the things that facilitated me being able to smoke at the young age I was was access to single cigarettes. One could buy a single cigarette. Anyone under the age of 45 listening to this debate would be tearing their hair out but it is true. It was possible and was done. One could buy a single cigarette, or two or three, for 10p each, depending on how much money one had. That is why the Bill is important. I will not allow the Government to overstate the importance of the Bill because it knows what else it should be doing. It is a small step but an important one. It is a move that will be welcomed by every tidy towns organisation the length and breadth of the State because they are tortured by single use vapes. It behoves us, as legislators, to do anything we can to ensure that people do not end up addicted to nicotine. It is a highly addictive substance and we need to keep it away from kids. If we can keep it away from kids and foster a positive environment, we will be on the road to being nicotine free, which is a good step to take. I do not doubt the usefulness of vapes in getting people off cigarettes but some people have switched their addiction to cigarettes to an addiction to vaping. I know a person who is addicted to nicotine chewing gum. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and the people who finance nicotine addiction are moving much faster than the Government. They are flying ahead. For young people now, it is less about vapes and more about nicotine pouches. I welcome the Bill. It is important to recognise that this is a small step in the right direction. If we are going to ensure that we move quickly in the direction of becoming nicotine free, we need to look at resourcing youth work, resourcing and equipping teachers and making sure that children and young and older people are getting the message at every available opportunity.

Sentiment score: 0.20