Written Answers Nos. 209-231
209. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the key measures taken to improve screening services since January 2025; her priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51931/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
210. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the key measures taken to improve pharmacy services since January 2025; her priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51932/26]
View answerCommunity pharmacies are a phenomenal asset and a major part of our health infrastructure. They are embedded in their communities. They are the first, and often easiest, place to go for trusted advice and practical support for patients. In this context, the Government is committed to expanding the role of pharmacists and ensuring that patients can access a wider range of services closer to home.
Since January 2025, my Department has undertaken significant measures to strengthen and expand community pharmacy services as part of the Government’s commitment to improve access to healthcare in the community.
The Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025, negotiated between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), has provided a strategic framework for the development of community pharmacy supported by €75 million in additional investment, including €25 million in 2025 and €50 million in 2026. The Agreement is designed to expand pharmacy services, support sustainable funding, modernise service delivery and enhance integration with the wider health system
Key measures introduced and being advanced include:
Common Condition Service: This service was publicly launched in January 2026. The service enables community pharmacists to assess and treat patients with 8 specified common conditions in accordance with approved clinical protocols. Uptake of the service is strong, with over 90% of pharmacies delivering the service in their communities. This service improves timely access to care, reduces pressure on GP and urgent care services, and makes greater use of the clinical expertise of pharmacists within local communities. My Department has implemented structures to allow evaluation of this service later this year, and to ensure evidence-based expansion of the service in due course.
Contraception Service: I recently published The Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026. This Bill sets out the enabling provisions needed to further expand the role of pharmacists, empowering them to provide contraception prescribing services for the first time, and play a more integrated role in patient care. If enacted, the new Bill will enable women eligible for the Free Contraception Scheme (FCS) to access the pharmacy prescription service, free of charge. Patients not eligible under the FCS (for example, women aged 36 and over) will be able to access the new prescription service, subject to a locally determined fee.
Medicines Optimisation Support Service (MOSS): From June 1st 2026, a new patient-centred medicines optimisation support framework was introduced. This service is designed to strengthen supports for vulnerable cohorts of patients with medical cards. Under this service, funding has been provided to support patients with targeted medicines optimisation. These changes are expected to decrease administrative burden on pharmacists, while allowing them to apply a patient-focused model in supporting patients to better manage their medication.
Vaccination Services: Delivery of vaccination services through pharmacy, and as part of schools’ programmes continues to grow. As of 1st May 2026, eligible medical card patients over the age of 65 can now avail of pneumococcal vaccination services free of charge, at their local pharmacy. This initiative improves access to this vaccine for patients across the country.
My Department is currently engaging with the Health Research Board with a view to commencing research to inform the potential future expansion of pharmacy-based vaccination services in Ireland.
Health Promotion/Wellness Hubs:
Community pharmacies are uniquely placed to support health promotion and disease prevention, with highly accessible locations, extended opening hours and as trusted healthcare professionals embedded within local communities. Through their daily engagement with patients, pharmacists play an important role in promoting healthy behaviours, supporting early intervention, and improving public awareness of key health issues.
In recognition of the considerable impact pharmacies can make in improving population health, the following HSE health campaigns have been or will be delivered in 2026:
• National Condom Distribution Service: This service enables pharmacies to distribute free condoms and lubricant sachets to population groups who may be at increased risk of unplanned pregnancy, HIV or STIs. Phased roll-out of this service commenced in February. All pharmacies will be invited to participate in this service by September 2026.
• Alcohol and Pregnancy Awareness Campaign – April 2026.
• Men's Health Campaign – June 2026.
• National Bowel Screening Programme through Pharmacy – Pharmacies will be able to opt-in to deliver this service . This service sees pharmacies uptake promotion of the bowel screening programme at population level as well as enhancing access, by supporting individuals to participate in the programme. Full implementation of the service is planned for early 2027.
• Winter Vaccination Campaign – scheduled for September/October 2026.
Additional grant funding has been made available to support pharmacists in undertaking the training and professional development required for their expanding role. This investment will support community pharmacies in contributing to key public health priorities, including illness prevention, the promotion of screening programmes, health promotion initiatives and early intervention services, helping to improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.
Medicines Disposal Service: A new National Medicines Return Service will shortly commence in pharmacies across Ireland. This disposal service will allow the public to return unused or expired medicines for safe disposal to their local pharmacy. This will ensure protection of our environment, reduce the risk of suicide and self-harm in our communities, and help protect against antimicrobial resistance in our society. This service will be publicly launched in the coming months and is supported by dedicated annual funding.
Electronic Record Keeping Legislation: In April this year, I signed new legislation to enable greater electronic record keeping in pharmacy practice. This legislation provides for an alternative to manual, paper-based processes, and allows pharmacies to maintain records digitally, where appropriate software safeguards are in place. These measures will significantly reduce administrative burden in pharmacy practice, enabling pharmacists to spend more time with patients, delivering clinical care.
Strategic Collaboration Group: This group, as set out under the Community Pharmacy Agreement, comprises the HSE, the Department of Health, and the Irish Pharmacy Union. It provides a structured forum for dialogue and joint consideration of strategic issues shaping the future of community pharmacy in Ireland. Two Meetings of the Strategic Collaboration Group have been held to date.
All of these reforms will help ensure that patients can access safe, convenient and timely healthcare services through their local pharmacy while supporting wider health system capacity and resilience.
211. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the key measures taken to improve social care services since January 2025; her priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51933/26]
View answer212. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the key measures taken to support and improve GP services since January 2025; her priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51934/26]
View answerAs per the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to increasing the number of GPs practicing across in the State, thereby improving access to GP services for all patients. Increasing our GP workforce, primarily through a combination of international recruitment and increased training places, remains a priority this year and for the coming years.
Annual investment provided for general practice has been increased by over €340 million under the 2019 and 2023 GMS GP Agreements. The agreements provide for increased GP capitation fees, increased and new supports for practices, as well as new fees for additional services. The 2023 Agreement also provided for the expansion of GP visit card eligibility to all children under 8 years of age and to all those who earn up to median household income.
The implementation of both Agreements continued last year, increasing the attractiveness of working in general practice in Ireland. As per the 2023 Agreement, a new locum support initiative commenced last May year which provides GPs in receipt of rural practice supports with access to a streamlined locum sourcing service.
The 2019 and 2023 GP Agreements also provide for the GP Chronic Disease Management Programme. This programme is popular with both patients and medical professionals, with a 97% participation rate among GPs and 80% for eligible patients.
The chronic conditions included in the programme under the 2019 Agreement were Type 2 Diabetes, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Cardiovascular Disease. Under the 2023 Agreement, the programme was expanded to include adult GMS patients with hypertension, and all women diagnosed with gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. Work is currently underway to further expand the programme to include Chronic Kidney Disease, among other conditions.
The annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available in 2024 and again in 2025. The number of new entrant training places is to increase again this year by 50 places to 400. As a result, the number of GP graduates has increased in recent years and will continue to increase in the coming years.
Having commenced in 2023, recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. As of end 2025, there were 111 IMG GPs placed in general practice and a further 58 had completed the 2-year programme. The placement of IMG GPs is targeted to rural and underserved areas.
Further potential measures to support GP practices are being considered under the Strategic Review of General Practice. With input from key stakeholders, the review is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice. Significant progress has been made under the review and it is to be completed this year. Following its completion, a final report will be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice.
213. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide the amounts by which her Department or agencies within the aegis of her Department has that been defrauded as a result of a cyberattack; and the total amount which has been recovered for each of the years 2021 to 2025, and to date in 2026. [51986/26]
View answerPlease see the attached file which outlines the amounts requested by the Deputy for each of the years 2021 to 2025, and to date in 2026.
Three agencies are yet to respond - The Dental Council, the Health and Information Quality Authority and the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority. I will forward the responses to the Deputy once received.
This PQ has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
214. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if she will include the shingles vacation for adults aged 65 years and over free of charge at the point of delivery in the national immunisation programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51994/26]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is informed by the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC considers the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland as well as international best practice in relation to immunisation when developing its advice
The current NIAC guidelines state that the shingles vaccine may be considered for those aged 65 years and older, due to the greater burden and severity of disease in this age group and in those aged 18 years and older at increased risk of shingles.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. HIQA’s HTA examined the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of shingles vaccines. The cost effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, along with the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule.
HIQA published this HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact.
While the vaccine is considered safe and effective, its protective effect diminishes over time. HIQA also noted the substantial budget impact associated with vaccination. If made available to everyone aged 65 and older, vaccination would cost €218 million over five years.
Whilst the HTA found that the introduction of the shingles vaccine was not cost effective based on the cost of the vaccine, it found that it could be cost effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years if the cost of the vaccine was reduced by 80%.
Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process.
My Department considered the findings of this HTA in 2024 and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable
I can confirm that the introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation schedule in Ireland is again being actively considered for a cohort of immunocompromised individuals, in line with NIAC advice and cognisant of the cost effectiveness of market pricing and available funding.
215. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if her Department will publish the independent review of HIQA on nursing homes; to publish HIQA's action plans and implementation; the timeframes to implement each recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51995/26]
View answerPoor care, mistreatment, neglect or any form of abuse of a person living in a long-term residential care setting is completely unacceptable.
On 2nd July 2026, HIQA published the independent review of its nursing home regulatory inspection and monitoring processes, undertaken by Forvis Mazars and this is publicly available to view on the HIQA website.
The Forvis Mazars review was initiated by the Minister for Health and I, as the Minister of State for Older People and Housing, following the RTÉ Investigates programme broadcast in June 2025 which highlighted serious failings in care, staffing and oversight in a number of nursing homes.
The Minister for Health and I welcome the publication of this independent review. The findings and recommendations of the review will now be considered in detail alongside ongoing policy, regulatory and legislative reforms aimed at strengthening governance, safeguarding and quality across long-term residential care settings. A detailed implementation plan will now be developed.
The health, safety and wellbeing of nursing home residents is of paramount importance to the Government.
216. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health if her Department is considering a ban on the purchase of tobacco products for future generations, such as was introduced in countries such as New Zealand and the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52003/26]
View answerTobacco is a uniquely lethal product when used exactly as intended by the manufacturer. It kills almost 100 people and causes over 1000 hospitalisations every week in Ireland. There is no age at which it becomes safe to consume tobacco.
Our national tobacco control policy, Tobacco Free Ireland, is currently being reviewed. One of the central goals will be to set out a pathway to end the epidemic of tobacco-related harm in Ireland. My officials and I are considering all measures to fulfill this objective, including a generational ban.
217. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health for an update on hospital appointments for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52027/26]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The Minister for Health is prohibited from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
218. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the funding available for a Women's Shed (details supplied). [52059/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
219. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health if she will provide clarity on recent changes to home support services; if it is correct that new home support packages are now only being approved for people in critical or urgent need and those receiving palliative or end-of-life care; whether home support packages are now being capped at 14 hours per week; and if complex care funding, including nursing supports, has been exhausted for the year. [52060/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
220. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that home support services are vital in enabling people to remain safely in their own homes; and if she will outline the rationale for the measures. [52061/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to "Design a Statutory Homecare Scheme to allow people to stay in their own home for as long as possible." Enabling older people with care needs to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible, is a priority for the Government and as such it has committed to establishing a new Statutory Scheme for regulation of home support services, which the Department of Health is currently developing.
Investment in older persons services is a fundamental priority for this Government. The budget for home support for older people in 2026 is the largest ever, with investment more than doubling since 2018. Over €914 million euro has been allocated for 2026.
The target for home support increased from 24 million hours in 2025 to 26.7 million hours for 2026; an 11% increase. This is more home support than has ever been delivered before and represents a 43% increase in the target since 2020.
The Government remains committed to supporting people to age in place in their community through access to home support, complemented by community services like day centres, Meals on Wheels and more.
Home support is a vital service that is delivered to many people across the country every day by public, private and voluntary providers. A critical first step is ensuring that the home support providers are regulated.
An important development in the home care sector has been the enactment of the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Act 2026 which introduces for the first time, the registration and regulation by HIQA and the Chief Inspector of Social Services of all of public, private and voluntary home support providers in Ireland. The Bill has been approved by Cabinet and was published on 22nd December 2025 being signed into law by the President on 1st July 2026. As the Bill has been enacted, the Department will continue to work with HIQA and in consultation with the sector, on the legal drafting of the secondary legislation (the regulations).
The new system of regulation for home support providers will ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard while bringing Ireland in line with best international practice.
221. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health the specific measures that will be put in place to protect vulnerable individuals who will be unable to access necessary support, including people who require assistance with essential daily activities such as washing, dressing and eating, as well as younger people with disabilities who depend on home support to live independently. [52062/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
222. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health her views on the circular issued by the HSE on 25 June 2026 that will, from 29 June 2026, that will refuse new home support to roughly 85% of the people who need it across CHO7; the rationale for these restrictions; and the measures being taken to protect those who are now unable to access support.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52063/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
223. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to procure additional ophthalmology service provision to address the needs of the more than 58,000 patients currently on waiting lists for ophthalmology care nationwide; when the next National Treatment Purchase Fund Framework for waiting list activity is expected to be published; when procurement under that framework is expected to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52065/26]
View answerIt is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
I published the Waiting Time Action Plan (WTAP) for 2026 on January 30th, as part of this Government’s ongoing commitment to improving access to hospital care and reducing waiting times for patients.
The multi-annual Action Plan approach was implemented in September 2021 to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times. Significant progress has been made under this approach in reducing the length of time patients are waiting.
With the 2026 plan, we will continue to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi annual action plan approach, moving towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
In relation to the particular query raised, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has advised my Department that it is about to procure a Framework for Healthcare Services which will replace the current framework. This process will be completed by the end of September this year. Ophthalmology services will be procured under this framework.
Currently, the NTPF has procured services for Ophthalmology outpatient full packages of care for cataract patients, as well as surgical services for patients listed for cataract procedures, strabismus procedures and ophthalmology lesion procedures.
224. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the extension and reconfiguration of St Anne's Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52087/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
225. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of a new primary care centre at Inisboffin, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52088/26]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
226. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the establishment of a planned trauma care service at Merlin Park University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52089/26]
View answerThe Trauma Strategy, A Trauma System for Ireland: The Report of the Trauma Steering Group, was approved by Government in February 2018. The Strategy recommended the development of an inclusive trauma system, to co-ordinate and standardise the care of approximately 1,600 patients who suffer major trauma in Ireland each year.
Additional funding was of €4m was provided for the Trauma Strategy in 2025 (full year funding of €8m in 2026). This included funding for the development of Planned Trauma Care services at Merlin Park, Galway.
Planned Trauma Care at Merlin Park will provide a clinical pathway for people with injuries that can be managed as a day-case or with a short length of stay. Planned Trauma Care will also allow patients to receive follow-on services after their initial trauma care, and will deliver improvements in the care of patients with less severe injuries by scheduling these patients for theatre. This will lead to better patient experience, efficiency, and reduced waiting times in the Emergency Department.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly to provide further details on Planned Trauma Care services at Merlin Park.
227. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on establishing a single point of access for all children, in conjunction with child and adolescent mental health services and primary care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52090/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, it is a priority for me that the HSE develop a Single Point of Access to create an integrated approach across Mental Health, Disability Services, and Primary Care to strengthen collaboration and deliver more consistent and equitable access for children and their families.
The approach is to ensure that the most appropriate service (primary care, disability or mental health) takes lead responsibility for the care of each child, and facilitates input from other care services if needed. For example, where an Autistic child is accepted into the care of a Community Disability Network Team, but they also have a moderate to severe mental health difficulty, CAMHS will also provide therapeutic input to that child’s care. This is known as ‘shared care’.
A National Implementation Group is in place within the HSE, and Health Regions have established their own Regional Steering Groups responsible for developing local implementation plans, and delivering this reform to simplify access to care for children and their families. These local Implementation Plans were signed off by the HSE CEO in December last. Many areas have already been implementing the Single Point of Access approach, and this continues to be rolled out nationally.
Separately, in youth mental health, we are also adopting a similar ‘No Wrong Door’ approach in connecting young people who have a mental health difficulty with the most appropriate level of care to match the young person’s need.
Referrals for CAMHS are up almost 70% since 2020, and we know many young people could be treated earlier – and more effectively - in an alternative service such as Jigsaw or where similar early intervention care options are available.
In Budget 2026, I secured funding for a range of youth mental health service improvements, including developing a digital ‘No Wrong Door’ approach for youth mental health. This is a key objective of the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Action Plan 2025-2027, and is being developed in response to challenges faced by families navigating multiple services, including duplication of referrals, inconsistent triage processes, and fragmented communication between services. It is designed to work within existing services, not as a new standalone service. It is fully aligned with wider health reform and the Children’s Services SPoA referral system detailed above.
There are currently three demonstration sites trialling this approach, with good initial outcomes, and the Child and Youth Mental Health Action Plan has committed to mainstreaming this across all youth mental health services in the six Regional Health Areas during the lifetime of the Plan.
I have referred this PQ to the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the more detailed operational information sought.
228. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the use of sativex (nabiximols), a pharmaceutical-grade spray, or any other standardised cannabinoid extracts licensed and available to assist those withdrawing from cannabis use; and her views on the dual diagnosis services that are available for those experiencing cannabis addiction and mental health issues. [52110/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
229. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether the conference being organised by her Department on 16 and 17 November 2026, entitled "Maximising EU Potential through Health - Securing Our Future Through Prevention, Innovation and Equity", will include any dedicated session, panel, speaker contribution or outcome document addressing tobacco control, novel nicotine products, youth vaping, or preparations for a revised Tobacco Products Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52111/26]
View answer230. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether, during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, if she intends to seek a dedicated discussion at EPSCO Health Council, including under Any Other Business if necessary, on the need to expedite the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive; whether she has raised or intends to raise this matter directly with the European Commissioner for Health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52112/26]
View answer231. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the plans to work with the Member States that joined Ireland in the March 2025 letter to the European Commission calling for urgent progress on EU tobacco-control legislation, including Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain, with a view to securing renewed Council-level momentum during the Irish Presidency; whether any such contacts have taken place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52113/26]
View answer232. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings of the Working Party on Public Health that are scheduled or expected to take place during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union; whether tobacco control, novel nicotine products, youth vaping, or the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive are expected to feature on the agenda of any such meeting; and whether Ireland intends to table any Presidency paper, discussion note or draft Council conclusions on these issues. [52114/26]
View answer234. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether she plans to facilitate exchanges between the European Commission, Council officials, Member State health attachés and public-health stakeholders, including through workshops, technical meetings or Presidency events, to support a comprehensive and expedited revision of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52116/26]
View answer235. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether Ireland intends to seek council conclusions, a Presidency statement, or another formal Presidency output during its EU Council Presidency calling for stronger EU action on tobacco control, including action on novel nicotine products, youth vaping, cross-border marketing, flavours, packaging and online sales; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52117/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 229, 230, 231, 232, 234 and 235 together.
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.
