One life saved every day since ban on smoking began

A life has been saved every day since the workplace smoking ban was introduced a decade ago, according to figures released to mark its anniversary.

However, despite the success of the measure, Health Minister James Reilly has insisted he wants to go further as part of a fresh assault on the tobacco industry.

Department of Health records revealed on the 10-year anniversary of the ban yesterday show 3,726 fewer people have died from smoking-related conditions since March 2004 than medical trends suggested would occur.