29 pubs convicted of breaching smoking ban last year

Twenty-nine Irish pubs were convicted of breaching the smoking ban last year, according to the latest figures from the Office of Tobacco Control.

In its annual report for 2007, the office says a total of 49 convictions were secured for breaches of the ban.

Twenty-nine of these related to pubs and 11 of these related to outdoor smoking areas that failed to comply with the legislation.

Overall, the Office of Tobacco Control says it recorded 95% compliance with the legislation during almost 29,000 inspections at workplaces throughout the country.

Elsewhere, 20 prosecutions were taken in connection with the sale of cigarettes to minors.