Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has pushed back against the prospect of an outright vape ban in Ireland, saying adults should remain free to decide whether they want to vape.
Her comments came a day after Taoiseach Micheál Martin signalled his personal support for much tougher action on vaping, including the possibility of a complete ban.
Speaking at Sinn Féin’s annual think-in in Malahide, Co Dublin, McDonald said protecting children and young people remained the party’s priority, particularly when it came to disposable vapes.
But she said “adults have to be given and afforded, in a democratic society, the choice” over whether to vape, smoke or use tobacco products.
McDonald, who is a former smoker, said she would not advise people to consume tobacco but warned against an overly restrictive response from the state.
She said a heavy-handed approach would be “absolutely counterproductive”.
Her comments draw a distinction between measures designed to prevent young people taking up nicotine and restrictions affecting adults who choose to use vaping products.
Taoiseach raises prospect of outright ban
The intervention followed comments from Martin at Fianna Fáil’s annual think-in, where he described vaping as the “revenge of Big Tobacco” and said the Government should consider stronger measures.
Asked whether he would support an outright ban, he said products considered damaging to health should be dealt with “in as strong a manner as possible”.
Martin also said vapes were “nearly worse than cigarettes”.
That comparison goes further than current guidance from Ireland’s Health Service Executive. The HSE says smoking tobacco is extremely dangerous and that vaping delivers nicotine with fewer toxins than cigarettes and may be less harmful, while stressing that vaping is not risk-free.
McDonald was also asked about proposals to use planning rules to limit the concentration of vape shops in Irish towns and villages.
She said there needed to be balance over the types of retail outlets allowed in communities, pointing to previous concerns around concentrations of off-licences and betting shops.
Sinn Féin backs regulation but opposes blanket restrictions
The position does not amount to opposition to vaping regulation.
Sinn Féin’s health policy backs regulation of the marketing, packaging, contents and flavours of nicotine-inhaling products, as well as a ban on disposable vapes.
During debate on Ireland’s Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill in April, Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane supported measures aimed at protecting children but opposed a blanket prohibition on vape flavours.
Cullinane argued instead for a restricted range of standard flavours, describing that as a more proportionate way of protecting children while recognising adult use. Other Sinn Féin TDs also raised the potential role of vaping in harm reduction for people who smoke.
Ireland has already legislated separately against disposable vapes. The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Act 2026 was signed into law on July 15.
The Government’s wider nicotine legislation also provides for restrictions on vape packaging and imagery, devices resembling toys or games, retail advertising and displays, as well as new controls on nicotine pouches.
