It's been 20 years since the smoking ban was introduced. It was viewed as controversial at the time but it's estimated there are 800,000 fewer smokers today as a result. Health experts say cases of stroke and heart disease fell almost immediately. Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who pushed through the workplace smoking ban legislation as Health Minister in 2004, was joined at Government buildings yesterday by representatives of the Irish Heart Foundation, its ASH Council, and members of other organisations involved in its initiation.
The official 20th anniversary of the ban, the first of its kind in the world, falls on Good Friday. The Tánaiste said the landmark public health measure, which outlawed smoking inside pubs and restaurants for the first time, represented one of the "most memorable and significant moments" of his political career.
"At the time, there was huge opposition to the smoking ban and doubts over whether it would ever succeed, particularly in our hospitality industry. The decision sparked ferocious debate in what was the first real discussion on public health in Ireland. Shortly after its introduction, the ban came to be viewed as an important protective measure for the health of workers in every sector. It was clear that the general public wanted it."
