Two years after its introduction, the Irish Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) says it found that 95 per cent of the 35,043 premises it inspected in 2005 were in compliance with the legislation, in a study published last week.

A total of 38 pubs were prosecuted for breaches. Former health minister Micheál Martin imposed the ban in March 2004 despite stringent opposition from publicans and tobacco firms.
The health department now plans to outlaw packs of ten cigarettes to target the 20 per cent of 15 to 18 year-olds who currently smoke. (pi)