Ireland risks missing its tobacco-free target date of 2025 by 27 years, the HSE has warned.

The shocking delay is putting new pressure on Health Minister Simon Harris to soften his stance on e-cigarettes to help more smokers quit.

The Government is committed to being "tobacco-free" - with less than 5pc of the population still smokers - by 2025.

But the HSE report says that, based on current trends, this target will not be met until 2052.