Proliferation of vape shops
Senator Comyn calls for a timely debate on the growing number of vape shops and their health, legal and heritage implications.
I also extend my condolences to the family of the late Senator Enda Bonner, and to my colleague in the Seanad, Senator Craughwell, on the passing of his beloved Helen. May her gentle soul rest in peace.
I raise something that I have raised in the past in the Chamber, the proliferation of vape shops across the country. There is a particular impetus at the moment because there are so many issues, such as heritage, health and legal considerations. We need a timely debate in the Chamber. I raised it at the Fianna Fáil think-in. I was delighted that the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, picked up on it and said that we have to seriously look at them. We have to look at whether the vapes themselves should be on our streets. How many vape shops do we need in every town? They are popping up on every street corner. In my hometown of Drogheda, we are into the multiple figures. We have four of them in one street. It is the same with nail bars, mobile phone shops and all of those kinds of shops. How many do we need? They need to be seriously examined. Many vape shops are masquerading as sweet shops. They are now being called "candy stores". We have obesity problems with our children. We know that some of those who are pushing sweets to bring children into their shops are selling these products to those who are under age. We have made that illegal here and we have also made it illegal to sell HHC products. I know from speaking to many people, particularly in my hometown and county, that they are still being sold over the counter quite openly. The shops are being raided again and again, and we do not seem to be able to close them. A timely debate is needed with the Minister for justice or the Minister for Health. I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, has worked incredibly hard on this issue. We need to look at how many we need. Do we need to bring Revenue in to see whether some of them are legitimate? I know some of them are. I am not anti-business, but surely we can come up with better quality shops for our towns and cities.