merrion street

Minister Reilly launching Tobacco Free Ireland with children (l-r) Isbella Stritch and Joe Wray (7)

Health Minister James Reilly today marked the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the workplace smoking ban in Ireland.

Minister Reilly said:

The workplace smoking ban in 2004 was a ground breaking initiative, and it has had a huge impact. Recent research found 3, 726 fewer smoking related deaths than would have been expected if the smoking ban had not been brought in. This is indisputable evidence that the ban is saving lives, and improving our overall health as a nation.

Recent research published only last year, found that the smoking ban was associated with a number of immediate reductions in ill-health in the general population:

• an immediate 13% decrease in all-cause mortality 
• a 26% reduction in ischaemic heart disease 
• a 32% reduction in stroke, and 
• a 38% reduction in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

The Minister concluded:

My priority is to reduce the consumption of tobacco across the board, to meet our policy target of making Ireland tobacco free (i.e. with a smoking prevalence rate of less than 5%) by 2025.