It's 20 years since the introduction of the smoking ban in Ireland.
In 2004, Ireland became the first country in the world to ban smoking in pubs, restaurants and in the workplace.
According to the World Health Organisation, over one quarter of the world's population now live in countries with complete smoking bans.
There are 800,000 fewer smokers in Ireland today since the introduction of the ban.
Smoking rates down from 27% in 2004 to 18% in 2023.
There has also been a reduction of smoking rates among children, from 19% in 2004 to 5% today.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said 20 years on we now face new, worrying challenges posed by vaping.
He said the Minister for Health has taken important steps to ban the sale of vapes to children and is examining further measures to address the challenges.
Michael Martin said the government remain focused on measures that put the health of our population first, that protect future generations and that will bring us closer to our goal of a tobacco-free Ireland."
