Senator John Crown has said the manufacturing and sale of tobacco products should be banned by 2025.

The senator, who is also a consultant oncologist, said the measures should be adopted at a European level.

He said placing a ban on the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes should be a long-term goal.

Senator Crown said: "It will give the companies time to re-tool the machines to make something else.

"This is a time when the world is short of food. Imagine all that agricultural land being used to produce cancer causing tobacco instead of being used to grow food.

"It will allow the pension funds to reinvest and it will give the addicts due notice, if you're still alive in ten to 15 years, you won't be able to get cigarettes legally."

Senator Crown, along with Jillian van Turnhout and Mark Daly, advocated a Bill that will see a ban on smoking in cars in Ireland when children are in the vehicle. The Bill was approved by the Cabinet yesterday.