Ireland should declare complete ban on smoking, says heart specialist

IRELAND should declare an outright ban on smoking, according to one of the country’s leading heart surgeons.

Only by making it illegal can smoking-related diseases be radically reduced, Tom Aherne, cardiac thoracic surgeon at Cork University Hospital said yesterday.

“I support the Minister for Health’s drive to limit smoking in the workplace but I believe Ireland could take a lead by banning smoking altogether,” said Mr Aherne.