Stephen Donnelly continued his predecessor’s legacy at Government Buildings on Tuesday, validating an increase in the legal age to buy cigarettes to 21. The incumbent Minister for Health from Fianna Fáil party carries the mantle from party leader Micheál Martin, who initiated a pioneering workplace smoking ban two decades ago, making Ireland the first nation to institute such a ban.
Although Micheál rarely discusses his significant role in placing Ireland at the forefront of smoking prohibitions globally, Stephen is poised to continue this path-setting trend. He is on the brink of making Ireland the first European Union country to elevate the age threshold for cigarette purchases.
The Minister for Health has previously banned the sale of vaping products to those under 18 in December and is currently devising legislation regarding the use of flavours and colours in such devices. This progress is welcome news, considering 18% of Ireland’s population over the age of 15 smoke.
However, Dáil’s Jennifer Whitmore, a fellow Wicklow constituency member has appeared to disrupt Stephen’s forward momentum regarding nicotine regulation. She raised eyebrows by bringing a small sachet – a nicotine pouch – to the chamber, emphasising that it was not a patch but a pouch.
When Jennifer demonstrated how to apply the pouch – by nestling it up against your gum – it aroused curiosity amongst the chamber’s TDs, who are all long past their teenage years. The potency of the pouch is five times stronger than a cigarette, causing a stir amongst the politicians present, including a concerned look from the Taoiseach.
Children are currently using highly addictive products in schools, often unbeknown to teachers who are unaware of the hidden pouches tucked under students’ gums. The items, frequently sold in teen-friendly flavours like mint and berry, are currently unregulated.
In response to this growing problem, a formal inquiry to the Health Minister reveals that no regulations exist to manage their sale. Many are calling for this oversight to be addressed urgently. The head of the National School Principals’ Association has specifically requested guidelines from the Health Service Executive to help schools handle the situation.
“To really make progress, we need to stay one step ahead of the nicotine companies. We have to be proactive and introduce regulations before the problem escalates too far,” one person argued.
Simon Harris, representative for Wicklow, listened attentively to the details of the issue, taking extensive notes. He expressed his gratitude for having the issue brought to his notice and expressed his concerns. “This situation seems highly alarming and distressing for parents, teachers and school principals,” he responded, promising to discuss the issue with the Health Minister and convey these significant worries, which he fully shared.
This issue adds another task to Stephen Donnelly’s growing workload, urged by his fellow party member and rival. Meanwhile, the Opposition is pressing the Taoiseach to take swift action on his numerous pending tasks, particularly if he hopes to address the housing crisis successfully.
With less than a year remaining for the 33rd Dáil, the clock is ticking for Simon Harris to produce visible results before the next general election. In the meantime, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns will maintain pressure on the government over its perceived failures on housing.
Mary Lou has been steadfast in challenging the Taoiseach on housing, drawing clear battle lines between the affluent property speculators reaping benefits at the expense of regular people who merely desire a home of their own. Holly Cairns, on the other hand, communicates in a manner that resonates with younger voters who fear lifelong exclusion from the housing market. She champions their cause through her straightforward approach targeted at this demographic.
The conduct of the Sinn Féin leader seemed to have had a profound impact on her, seen in her expressions and comments this past Tuesday. While addressing the latest shocking indiscretion committed by the government against its citizens, deputy McDonald always ends her criticisms with the same exasperated declaration of dumbfounded incredulity: “You. Couldn’t. Make. It.Up.” Her disbelief was so intense on Tuesday that she prefaced her proclamation with a shocked “Wow!”. This was then succeeded by the acerbic remark, “This is scandalous.”
Her horror was triggered by the government’s choice to continue renting social houses from property funds at exorbitant prices, despite their earlier vow to terminate this practice. This, coupled with the insult that, after the state has paid €3.24 billion for another round of “wasteful” 25-year leases, the assets remain in the hands of the corporate landlords.
The ongoing long-term leasing agreements also perturbed Holly Cairns where “the State foots an inflated bill and is left with nothing but debt; no property, no dwellings”. Ultimately, the State will pay significantly more than the property’s worth, with sky-high rental charges, and, according to Cairns, “the investment funds are relishing it”.
Given the situation, all Holly could do was to echo some vintage Mary Lou, “You couldn’t make this up.” Former Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, had vowed to terminate these absurd arrangements. However, as she pointed out to Simon Harris, “The personalities fluctuate, but the track record of broken promises stays constant.”
The Taoiseach countered these accusations, saying that the lease deals only formed “a very small fraction” of the state’s housing supply, and guaranteed their discontinuation by the end of the following year. The leader of the Social Democrats, however, had little confidence in the Taoiseach’s recent promise.
She highlighted the vast difference between the government’s words and their actions. “Just yesterday, I heard you discussing on The Pat Kenny Show that we require a minimum of 50,000 houses annually. But the government’s established goal is 33,000, and the Housing Minister has stated that this will not alter until next year at least.” This did not sit well.
In quite a stern manner, Simon Harris sought to clarify his position, seemingly irritated, requesting not to be misquoted. He adamantly denied ever stating that 50,000 houses would be constructed this year. His actual assertion was that the county ought to erect a total of 250,000 new homes between the years 2025 and 2030. Quite a different proposition, according to him, yet one deemed entirely feasible by those in the construction industry.
Showing signs of exasperation, he further elaborated that, since the beginning of the year, some 29,000 homes have already been under construction, and at the time, the calendar has barely flipped to May. While observing his apparent irritation, Jennifer ought to have offered him the nicotine pouch.