Ash wanted car smoking ban seven years ago

Anti-smoking lobby Ash Ireland welcomed moves to ban smoking in cars carrying children — seven years after it first called for it to be outlawed.

Passengers as well as drivers face fines of €3,000 for smoking in a commercial or private vehicles under planned legislation.

Ash Ireland chairman Dr Ross Morgan said it first raised a ban as a possible health initiative with the previous health minister Mary Harney in 2005.