The number of Irish people smoking is far surpassing targets set by the HSE.
Under the Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, their aim is to reduce smoking among adults to 5% by 2025.
However, recent research suggests 18% of the adult population smokes cigarettes.
Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Colm Burke, says multiple groups want the legal age for buying to raise to 21:
"We have Alliance 21 which has been established which involves a whole lot of organizations like Irish Heart Foundation, COPD, Sport Ireland, the Irish Cancer Prevention Network. So we have a whole lot of organizations now who are looking for this."
