New research has said that more than eight in ten people (80%) in Ireland support a lifetime ban on tobacco sales to future generations.

The research was carried out by the Irish Heart Foundation and speaking on the findings with Newstalk Breakfast was Interim Director of Advocacy with the Foundation Mark Murphy. 

Something that he highlighted was how earlier this year, the UK passed the Tobacco and Vapes Act which is legislation that will prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, in the UK... including Northern Ireland.

This means the legal age to buy smoking products will increase from 18 to 19 years old, which will create a misalignment on the Island of Ireland.

He explained: "What happened yesterday is that 24 organisations from around the island of Ireland (charities, professional representatives, patient representatives, higher education institutions) came together to create the Smoke-Free Generation Alliance.

"[It] calls on the Irish government to follow the UK and bring in legislation to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 to create that all-island alignment.

"This is to ensure that children on both sides of the border, the next generation, are protected from the deadly effects of tobacco."

The UK's legislation is just for tobacco products, not including vapes, but they did bring in stronger regulations on e-cigarettes.

Mr Murphy added that in Ireland, there's a "smoking prevalence of 17%" which has remained the same since 2019.

He said: "One in five people in hospital with respiratory illness are there because of smoking. One in eight people with cancer in hospital are there because of tobacco and one in 10 people with circulatory diseases in hospital are there [because of] tobacco.

"So we need bold policies to further see a reduction in smoking and achieve a smoke-free generation. And that's what this will bring in.

"It is a national tragedy, but unfortunately, it just goes under the radar because it's become so normalised.

"We did a poll and in the Republic of Ireland, 83% are in favour of this legislation. We did the same poll in Northern Ireland and 74% in Northern Ireland want this as well.

"Even amongst smokers in the Republic of Ireland, 70% of smokers want this smoke-free generation."

Main image: Man smoking Pic: PA Wire/PA Images