According to a recent poll, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which moves to the committee stage in the House of Lords on October 27, was rated ninth out of ten government bills that are currently progressing through parliament.

According to a new survey conducted by iReach for the smokers’ rights group Forest Ireland, 79% of adults agree that it is ‘understandable’ that smokers might choose to buy cigarettes from the black market or abroad where tobacco is often significantly cheaper than in Ireland.

“Smoking in the open air is not a public health issue because there is no evidence that smoking outside is harmful to anyone else’s health, including children.

Following the prohibition of smoking on beaches and in parks in France, the Irish Heart Foundation has said it supports further restrictions on smoking in Ireland.

Smokers’ rights campaigners say the disposable vape ban, which will take effect from Sunday June 1, is a “disproportionate” response to youth vaping and environmental concerns and will create a “significant” black market in single use devices.

According to a new poll, 55% of adults in Britain would support options other than a total ban on the legal sale of tobacco to future generations of adults. 24% say they would support keeping the legal age of sale at 18, with 31% in favour of raising it to 21.