E-Cigarettes Need To Be Regulated - FG

E-cigarettes are posing a very real threat to the health of our children and it is time for Ireland to take the lead and regulate the use of such devices, Fine Gael has said.

Dun Laoghaire TD and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Mary Mitchell O’Connor raised the issue in the Dáil during a topical issue debate on the matter this week, saying: "I am very concerned at the rise in the number of children who have suffered from nicotine poisoning over the past two years. The liquid nicotine contained in e-cigarettes can cause acute illness and vomiting in young children, and experts are warning that fatalities could occur if the problem isn't addressed."

Deputy O'Connor said that she has spoken with the Clinical Director of the National Poisons Information Centre, Dr Edel Duggan, who says that the lack of regulation is a danger.

"The amount of nicotine in e-cigarettes needs to be regulated and more needs to be done to keep them out of the reach of children. I am concerned that the industry is directly targeting children by promoting flavours such as ‘Cherry Crush’ and ‘Chocolate Treat’.

"Ireland led the way internationally in 2004 when we introduced smoke-free zones in public places and workplaces, including restaurants and pubs. It is time for us to lead the way again by taking pro-active measures to regulate e-cigarettes. For instance, introducing a minimum age for buying e-cigarettes

"Harvard Professor Gregory Connolly recently warned that if unregulated, e-cigarettes could be the panacea for the tobacco industry’s woes by discouraging quitting and encouraging children to take up smoking. However, he said, if regulated, e-cigarettes could offer a miracle for getting people to quit smoking. We should take heed of his comments and show leadership within the EU by passing a law here regulating e-cigarettes as medical devices.”

(MH/CD)