Health canpaigning groups in Ireland have expressed disappointment with the failure of the EU parliament to adopt tough enough anti-smoking measures.

They have said this represents a victory for extensive lobbying by the tobacco industry.

MEPs have rejected a proposal to re-classify electronic cigarettes as medicinal products - this would have resulted in much tighter regulation of these products.

The Parliament voted against banning slim cigarettes and voted in favour of a ban on flavoured cigarettes; however it wants a long phase-in for this measure.

The ban on menthol cigarettes would not take place for five years.

MEPs have also voted in favour of increasing the size of health warnings on tobacco packs.

The warning will now cover more than two-thirds of a box and be at the top rather than the bottom. However, it had been proposed that the warning should cover three-quarters of the pack.

MEPs have also voted in favour of making a pack of 20 cigarettes the minimum size that can be sold in the European Union.

Reacting to the Parliament decisions, the Irish Heart Foundation said there had been a reduction in the planned size of health warnings.

The IHF said this, in addition to the failure to ban slim cigarettes, or to regulate e-cigarettes 'represents a victory for the lobbying power of the tobacco industry over the health of the children of Ireland and Europe generally.'

Kathleen O’Meara, Head of Advocacy and Communications said the long phasing-in period of the Directive's proposals was a success for the tobacco industry and their lobbyists.

"Despite the best efforts of Europe’s health community, the long phasing-in of the proposals contained in the Directive shows extraordinary efforts by the tobacco industry to obstruct and delay plans to reduce the number of people who smoke."

EU ministers will now review the anti-smoking plans.