Smoking Ban Ireland

Smoking ban in Ireland: 20 years on

How an unheralded civil servant triumphed against big tobacco

It's 20 years ago this week since Ireland went smoke-free in indoor public places.

The ban, which was introduced on March 29, 2004, was a landmark moment in public health. It was the first time that a country had banned smoking in all enclosed public places, including workplaces, restaurants, bars, and educational institutions.

The ban was the culmination of a long campaign by public health advocates, who had been pushing for years to reduce the harmful effects of smoking.

One of the key figures in the campaign was Dr. Tony Holohan, who was then a senior civil servant in the Department of Health.

Holohan was responsible for drafting the legislation that led to the ban. He faced strong opposition from the tobacco industry, which spent millions of dollars on lobbying efforts.

But Holohan refused to give up. He worked tirelessly to build public support for the ban, and he eventually succeeded in getting it passed into law.

The ban has been a huge success. In the years since it was introduced, the number of smokers in Ireland has fallen by half.

The ban has also had a significant impact on public health. The number of deaths from smoking-related diseases has fallen by more than a third.

Holohan's work on the smoking ban has made him a hero to public health advocates around the world.

He is a reminder that even one person can make a difference.