Anti-smoking group ASH Ireland has welcomed news that an outright ban on smoking in cars could be on the cards here.

A leading medical expert has launched a stinging attack on what he says is the Government's failure to support preventative health measures.

The Republic of Ireland is the toughest country in Europe on smokers after the UK, a major survey revealed today.

DESPITE the introduction of the smoking ban nearly three years ago, smoking levels have increased in this country, according to a national study of Irish health and lifestyles.

IRISH smokers contribute more per person to cigarette company profits than any other in the EU because of the Government’s minimum price policy.

Plane-loads of cheap cigarettes flown in from Eastern Europe are fuelling heavy smoking among Ireland’s Poles, a government minister claimed today.

A report on the smoking habits of Polish people living in Ireland will be launched today.

I NOTE Prof Luke Clancy of Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) is back trying to persuade Finance Minister Brian Cowen to add €2 to the price of a packet of cigarettes in the forthcoming budget.

SMOKERS are paying up to twice as much as non-smokers for life assurance and compulsory mortgage insurance, new figures show.

IRELAND has taken the lead in protecting non-smokers from tobacco smoke pollution, a European Commission-funded report has said.

THE anti-smoking lobby is on a collision course with trade unions and the country’s statisticians over proposals to reform the way cigarette price rises are measured.

The issue of removing cigarettes and tobacco from the index used to measure inflation is due to be discussed at a conference organised by anti-smoking lobbyists in Dublin today.

A fifth of all young smokers are overweight or obese, a major tobacco control conference heard today.

A one-day conference is being held today to explore ways to stop children from starting to smoke.

Air pollution in Irish pubs is down 83% since the start of the smoking ban, according to latest research by anti-smoking experts.

PROFESSOR Luke Clancy of anti-smoking group ASH says: “While the Government was making some efforts to curb tobacco use, they’re not doing enough” (Irish Examiner Letters, March 3).

THE Government is not doing enough to stop children taking up smoking, a leading anti-tobacco campaigner said yesterday as new figures showed that cigarette sales are on the increase in Ireland.

IRISH people are almost three times more likely to die from pneumonia than other Europeans.

RATES of TB increased significantly in Cork last year, showing the highest number of reported cases for a decade.

The Government is again being criticised by anti-smoking groups.

ANTI-SMOKING groups have criticised the increase of 50c on a packet of 20 cigarettes as a missed opportunity and a “complete failure by this Government to protect the health of our population”.

The Budget favoured the super-wealthy and did not address the real issues facing Irish society, Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte claimed tonight.

ANTI-SMOKING campaigners last night called for €2 extra to be put on a packet of 20 cigarettes to stub out the rising numbers of smokers.

Proof was provided today that a workplace smoking ban will improve people’s health when it comes into force next year.

The tobacco industry in Ireland has been asked to come clean on whether or not nicotine levels have been increased in cigarettes on sale in Ireland.

IRISH people are buying more cigarettes, despite the country having the toughest anti-smoking measures in Europe, it emerged yesterday.

THE Government has been told it must scrap the minimum price it imposes on cigarettes and replace it with increased taxes.

Anti-tobacco campaigners hailed the success of the workplace smoking ban today on its second anniversary.

SCOTTISH First Minister Jack McConnell was finally convinced a total ban on smoking in indoor public places would work while visiting Ireland in August 2004.

THE price of a pint, or who did what in Dublin last weekend is the last thing to bother tipplers throughout the country at the moment.

ONE-FIFTH of smokers have admitted they put children at risk every day by lighting up in the same room as them, a survey has revealed.

Children are still being exposed to major health risks by adults continuing to smoke tobacco in homes and cars, a new survey revealed today.

UP TO 40,000 smokers would kick the habit if the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes increased by 10%, according to an EU anti-smoking campaign.

THE €80 million increase in tobacco revenue to the Exchequer is a frightening illustration of the Government’s failure to advance its anti-smoking policies, a tobacco free lobby group has claimed.

ANTI-smoking lobby group ASH Ireland yesterday urged action against the spread of so-called smoking rooms in bars.

The anti-smoking group ASH Ireland is calling for action to combat higher levels of smoking among disadvantaged youths.

The zero increase in cigarette tax has left cigarettes here cheaper than in Britain, it was claimed tonight.

According to figures released today, one in six 11-year-old children smoke.

IT was interesting to read what can only be disinformation from the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) that 80% of smokers support the ban.

GETTING young people to realise smoking kills is an uphill battle, an international conference in Dublin heard yesterday.

ANTI-SMOKING campaigner Professor Luke Clancy yesterday told a conference that half of all young people starting to smoke today will eventually die due to cigarettes.

Half of all young people starting to smoke today will eventually die due to cigarettes, it was claimed today.

LESS than 20 prosecutions have been made against premises for breaching the smoking ban since it was introduced almost a year ago, the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) said yesterday.

CASH-STRAPPED Cork Opera House passed up the opportunity to stage the hit musical, I, Keano in the soccer star’s home town, the show’s producer has claimed.