Budget and vaping concerns
The Leader thanked Members, noted how many had raised the budget, and moved to vaping as a major concern. He said the Minister had considered banning flavoured vaping products and that the House needed a serious discussion.
I thank the 22 Members of the House for their contributions to the Order of Business. I join my colleagues in welcoming to the House our former colleague, Leader, and friend, Mr. Maurice Cummins. I thank him for his presence and acknowledge his outstanding contribution as a member of the Oireachtas and his local authority over long years of service.
Some 13 Members, including Senators Clifford-Lee, Conway-Walsh, Norris, Coffey, Craughwell, O'Reilly, Devine, Humphreys, O'Mahony, Conway, Gallagher and Mullen referred to the budget in their contributions, on which we had a debate yesterday. I can tell Senator Clifford-Lee that the transport budget has been increased by €2.7 billion, which is a 16% increase.
Comment on this
Vaping is becoming a matter of huge concern in this House. As Senator Clifford-Lee noted, Senator James Reilly proposed legislation on vaping. The Minister for Health stated at the Joint Committee on Health last week that he had given consideration to legislation banning flavoured vaping products for young people. We need to have a serious conversation about this because vaping is a gateway to smoking, as the Senator noted. I welcome the Minister's statement that he will not meet any representatives of the vaping industry.
Senator Boyhan raised a number of issues regarding horticulture, forestry and Bord na Móna. I would be happy to have the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Doyle, come to the House. I thank Senator Boyhan for his very thoughtful contribution.
Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of the budget. The Sinn Féin policy seems to be that of an ostrich putting its head in the sand, as the Taoiseach said this morning