The controversial workplace smoking ban came into effect at midnight last night to see the habit stamped out in workplaces, including pubs, hotels and restaurants. The Minister for Health said he hoped the ban would encourage smokers to quit.
Ireland is the first country in the world to impose a smoking ban, although some US states have introduced similar restrictions.
The Taoiseach said today he was confident the ban would provide a "health legacy" for current and future generations who will never know what it was like to work in an enclosed smoke-filled environment.
He said the new law was a "progressive health and safety measure, which will have positive benefits for workers and the general public alike.
"The bottom line is that regular exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, in enclosed workplaces, is a cause of ill health, which is actually preventable," Mr Ahern said.
The Minister for Health also expressed happiness with a measure that has faced fierce opposition from Cabinet colleagues, the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, and the powerful vintners' lobby. Vintners have warned of huge job losses when the ban takes effect.
Speaking at the First National Smoke Free Breakfast in Bewley's Café on Dublin's Grafton Street this morning, Speaking at the First National Smoke Free Breakfast in Bewley's Café on Dublin's Grafton Street this morning, Mr Martin said: "This important tobacco free initiative has the support of the majority of people in Ireland, smokers and non-smokers alike."
He said: "This is a positive, progressive health and safety measure, which will bestow positive benefits to workers and the general public."
The Minister said he believed the measure would save 150 lives a year and it would prompt smokers to give up.
"There may be a wider impact if the ban itself triggers a reduction in the consumption of the number of cigarettes," he added. Mr Martin said he believed the vast majority of people would obey the lay and he was seeking more than 90 per cent compliance.
"Many people have been coming up to me in the street urging me to go ahead with this initiative and not to back down. They can't wait for it to be implemented. It is ultimately for the benefit of people's health."
Vintners in Louth yesterday said they would work the "ridiculous law" but appealed to Mr Martin to allow exemptions if particular businesses were badly hit. But despite warnings of an exodus of customers over the Border, the Minister ruled out any exemptions.
The Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance, which has over 30,000 members, was set up especially to negotiate with the Government over its radical proposals. Spokesman Finbar Murphy described it as a "high brow pub-bashing exercise" and said it would put many small companies out of business.
He accused the Department of Health of bypassing the wishes of the majority of publicans for not introducing a protection system whereby traders can apply for a waiver if business is severely affected. Mr Murphy warned that the smallest rural establishments will be the worst hit, as well as those close to the Border.
However, groups including ASH Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Heart Foundation and IMPACT - Ireland's largest public sector trade union - welcomed the ban, warned that passive smoking increased the risk of lung cancer in co-workers by up to 30 per cent and said the ban would be an incentive for smokers to stub them out for good.
There are exemptions for prisons, Garda station detention areas, nursing homes, hospices, psychiatric hospitals, and hotel, guesthouse and B&B bedrooms.
European Union health commissioner Mr David Byrne has said he would like to see the ban replicated throughout the EU.