Tom Power: Tom Power, who has died aged 55, was chief executive officer of the Office of Tobacco Control. A former senior official of the Department of Health, he paved the way for Ireland's far-reaching legislation on tobacco control and was the key driver in ensuring the introduction of comprehensive smokefree workplace legislation.
Internationally he played a significant role in EU negotiations on tobacco control legislation and in developing Ireland's support of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In addition he actively supported and encouraged the role of civil society in tobacco control.
Prof John Britton of the Royal College of Physicians paid tribute: "Tom's drive, determination and vision were instrumental in achieving the ban on smoking in public places in Ireland. In addition, he gave generously of his time, knowledge and expertise when advising others from countries dragging their heels in introducing such forward thinking policies. He was a lovely man who will be very much missed by the international tobacco-control community."
Born on June 24th, 1950, in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, he was one of the five children of Larry Power and his wife Ellen (née Quinn). Educated locally, he entered the Civil Service in 1971 after spending some years in a Christian Brothers' novitiate. Assigned initially to the Department of Social Welfare, he was in 1974 transferred to the Department of Health. In the 1980s he took a career break, working for his brother's construction business in London.
An unorthodox public servant in many respects, he was regarded by some colleagues as headstrong and opinionated, but he was also known for his intelligence, drive and political skills. He found his niche in the public health division, which he joined in 1992.
His interest in tobacco control stemmed from the fact that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland, resulting in 6,000 premature deaths each year. He was struck by the link between passive smoking and heart and lung disease.
He was credited by Micheál Martin, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and former minister for health, as the main driving force within the Department of Health in identifying the need for new legislation and persuading him to give a high priority to tackling the passive-smoking issue.
"It was a classic situation where a minister meets an official and they are both on the same wavelength," Mr Martin said. "When that happens, things can happen in legislation, beyond what people tend to expect."
In January 2003 it was announced that a "complete, total and absolute ban on smoking in the workplace", including pubs and restaurants, would be introduced.
By now Tom Power was chief executive officer of the Office of Tobacco Control and one of the architects of a coalition in support of the ban that included Government agencies, NGOs and medical organisations as well as trade unions.
A formidable campaign against the proposed legislation was mounted by an alliance of publicans, hoteliers, nightclub-owners and cigarette-machine operators, supported by the tobacco industry. The debate dominated the headlines in 2003, and there were many predictions that it would never be implemented, least of all in pubs.
However, within weeks of the law coming into effect in March 2004, it was reported that 97 per cent compliance had been achieved in all workplaces, including pubs. Compliance rates remain high, and other countries have announced plans to follow Ireland's example.
A former executive member of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants, Tom Power was interested in local history, politics and Gaelic football and was devoted to his family.
Among the many international tributes paid to him this week was one from the United States, which concluded: "We will miss him much but thank him often when we enter an Irish pub whether in Boston or Beijing and sip a fresh Guinness in a smoke-free environment."
His wife, Hannah, and their two children survive him.
Tom Power: born June 24th, 1950; died November 25th, 2005