Ireland was awarded a prestigious international award today in recognition of its workplace smoking ban.
The Champion Award was presented to the country's Minister for Health Mary Harney by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in Washington DC.
Ms Harney said she was honoured to accept it on behalf of everyone who contributed to the continuing success of the Smoke Free at Work Initiative.
"The response from all sectors to this historic measure continues to be very positive with compliance levels very high at 95 per cent, reflecting the goodwill and overwhelming support that exists for a clean smoke-free environment in the workplace," she said.
"The introduction of this legislation has resulted in a marked improvement in air quality in enclosed public places such as pubs and bars."
Since the introduction of the Smoke Free at Work Initiative over two years ago, Ireland has received a number of international awards.
The American Cancer Society recently announced that the Irish Department of Health and Children will receive a Luther L Terry Award for Exemplary Leadership by a Government Ministry later this year.
The Luther L Terry awards recognise outstanding worldwide achievement in the field of tobacco control and will be presented during a special ceremony on July 14 in Washington DC, during the 13th World Conference on Tobacco or Health.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a privately-funded US organisation that works to create a healthier smoke-free environment.
Most past Champion Award recipients have been elected US officials who have been strong advocates for tobacco control, but this year the organisers decided to honour Ireland for its leadership and political courage in introducing smoke-free workplaces legislation in March 2004.
A workplace smoking ban came into force in Scotland last March, while all English workplaces, including restaurants and pubs, will have a smoking ban in place by summer 2007.
PA