3709. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if any conferences dedicated to tobacco control or vaping control will take place during the Irish Presidency of the EU; her views on whether such events can help accelerate the long-awaited tobacco products directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62424/26]

The Irish Presidency will work to accelerate implementation of the EU Safe Hearts Plan by advancing innovations in prevention, early detection and integrated care that reduce inequalities and improve outcomes across Member States.

No Council Conclusions on Tobacco Control are expected during Ireland's Presidency, as we are waiting the publication of the Revised Tobacco Products Directive by the European Commission in late 2026.

Ireland strongly supports the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive and has previously urged the Commission to publish a proposal as soon as possible. Irish priorities for the Directive, in line with our national policy, would be strong tobacco “endgame” measures to reach the EU’s target of a smoke free generation by 2040, a ban on cross-border distance sales, and harmonised regulation of all nicotine products to reduce youth use. While Ireland is developing domestic measures in these areas, EU-level regulation would have the greatest impact.

Ireland led on an AOB for the formal meeting of the EPSCO (Health) Council of 20 June 2025, on the "continued and urgent call for action at EU level to protect young people from harm caused by novel tobacco and nicotine products, in particular e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches", which was submitted with the support of Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain.

I also discussed with the other Ministers of Health, "the impact of novel tobacco and nicotine products such as vapes and pouches on the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents", during the working lunch of the formal meeting of the EPSCO (Health) Council of 02 December 2025.

The ‘Safe Hearts’ Plan, published in December 2025, signalled that the European Commission will publish a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive in 2026. It is not expected before Q4, which is disappointing as this would have been a priority file for the Irish Presidency.

On 2 April 2026, the Commission published its Staff Working Document on the evaluation (see https://health.ec.europa.eu/tobacco/evaluation-legislative-framework-tobacco-control_en). The evaluation found that the EU rules on tobacco control have contributed to a significant decline in smoking and tobacco-related deaths across the EU, as well as supporting the internal market. At the same time, the evaluation highlights growing challenges linked to the rapid emergence of novel tobacco and nicotine products, particularly among young people.

On the basis of this evaluation, the Commission will now carry out an impact assessment and continue the wide-scale consultation process, in view of further policy actions Asset out in the Safe Hearts Plan, the Commission intends to propose, in 2026, a revision of the legislative framework on tobacco control.

Five provisional WPPH meetings are currently scheduled, but this is subject to change. If the Commission publishes a proposal for a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive during the Irish Presidency, Ireland will be fully committed to progressing negotiations on this proposal. Realistically, the earliest we could expect to see a legislative proposal for a revision of the tobacco legislation is mid-December 2026 – too late for the Irish Presidency.

I will be hosting the high-level Ministerial conference on Maximising EU potential through Health - Securing Our Future Through Prevention, Innovation and Equity in Dublin on 16-17 November 2026. This event is proposed as a dynamic forum that will bring Member States together to drive forward innovative, evidence-based approaches for prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Aligned with Ireland's Presidency priorities, the aim is to promote a proactive approach to population health across the EU, focusing on equitable access and innovation for preventative care. This event will convene politicians, policymakers, researchers, civil society, clinicians, patients and advocates to collaborate for a healthier, more equitable future for health and wellbeing across the EU. On Day 1 (16 November), as part of the opening programme, a fireside discussion entitled “The Commercial Determinants of Health: Tobacco and Policy Protection” will help frame the wider deliberations across the two days.

This session will examine tobacco use as a leading preventable cause of disease and mortality, and the importance of safeguarding public health policymaking from commercial and vested interests, in line with Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the evolving European policy landscape, including the forthcoming revision of the Tobacco Products Directive, and to consider how strong tobacco control and endgame measures can support the EU’s ambition of achieving a tobacco-free generation by 2040.