Study to smoke out e-cigs use

LEINSTER House is to look at the benefits and dangers of vaping for the first time.

The Oireachtas Library Service has announced in its Spring Bulletin it is to produce a study into e-cigarettes.

Senator Catherine Noone of Fine Gael welcomed the news.

She said: “I have called for e-cigarettes to be used as part of the approach to tackling smoking rates in Ireland. I believe if we are to make progress and achieve a tobacco-free Ireland we must examine approaches that are proving effective in other countries.

“One such example of this is the UK, which has seen a significantly bigger drop in smoking rates than here at home.

“Public Health England has adopted e-cigarettes as a quitting tool and has seen smoking rates fall below 15% while Ireland has struggled to reduce the

Woman in car smoking rate significantly. We know nicotine is addictive but we need to examine whether electronic vapourisers can play a role in moving people off tobacco.

“We are on track to miss our smoke-free deadlines in Ireland and I believe we can correct this course by potentially incorporating e-cigarettes in our policies.”

London’s Queen Mary University has released research that found vaping to be a health benefit.