A Sligo-Strandhill local election candidate has welcomed the news that the government has today approved a proposal to raise the age of sale of tobacco to 21.
Ireland will be the first country in the EU to introduce this measure, continuing the tradition of tackling smoking rates which began with the ban on indoor smoking in 2004.
The prohibition on tobacco product sales will not apply to vapes or to those who are currently between the ages of 18 and 20.
Local election candidate and retailer, Finbarr Filan, says we need to ensure that people over the age of 18 can still sell tobacco products, even if the age to buy them is raised to 21, otherwise the job opportunities for those aged 18-21 will be decimated within stores and shops.
Mr Filan also highlighted concerns over black market cigarettes.
