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A conference in Dublin heard on Wednesday that the Tobacco industry is rapidly targeting women and young girls, hoping to encourage them to smoke.

The companies are designing brands and products in such a way that it would appeal women, including even linking them to slimness and a sign of glamour and style, Kathleen O'Meara, head of Advocacy with the Irish Cancer Society claimed.

The packaging is such that they attract women, in light and feminine colors.

"Big tobacco firms are misleading women with products which link smoking to femininity and sophistication," O'Maera said according to The Sun.

O'Meara was one of the speakers at the conference on female smoking organized by the Irish Cancer Society and the National Women's Council. The conference aims at finding innovative ways of dealing with the problem.

According to O'Meara, although the overall smoking rates in Ireland are going down, the number of women smokers is at its peak and it is the need of the hour to spread awareness and warn girls and young women that they are being manipulated, reported Independent.ie.

 "It is time to take action. Women need to be aware of the tobacco industry's tactics and they also need support to quit. Around 70pc of smokers want to quit but they have to helped. There is a need for more support in disadvantaged areas," she added.

One in three Irish women are believed to be smokers .It is the main cause of preventable death and disease in Ireland and more women are dying of lung cancer than breast cancer.