James Cox
The Fine Gael Spokesperson on Health is calling for a limit of 20 on the number of cigarettes that can be sold in a pack.
There is currently a ban on selling packets containing less than 20 cigarettes, but no law on companies selling packets more than that.
According to Revenue, sales of these larger packets now account for around 30 percent of all cigarette sales in Ireland.
Deputy Colm Burke says higher quantity packets result in higher levels of smoking.
Temptation
Mr Burke told Newstalk: “The temptation is their, you're going into a shop to buy a packet of 20 cigarettes, and then you're saying 'no sure I'll buy a packet of 27 or 28. This I think needs to be regulated, and I believe that we need to do more work on this area to help those who are smokers give up smoking.”
Meanwhile, the North's Health Minister, Robin Swann, has laid out plans to ban smoking in cars when children are present.
Those in breach of the proposed legislation would be liable for fines of £50 (€59).
The sale of so-called e-cigarettes to those aged under 18 would also be banned under the proposals.
Mr Swann said: “The use of tobacco continues to be a primary cause of preventable ill health and premature death in Northern Ireland.
“It is vital that we maximise our efforts to reduce smoking prevalence and protect people, particularly children, from the effects of second-hand smoke.”
