One often hears the complaint that members of the current Government have lacked the courage to take the lead in various matters, whether in relation to Government extravagance, bureaucratic bungling, or the growing binge drinking culture, but the rest of the world is citing the Irish Government’s leadership in banning smoking in the workplace.It will be one year next week since the ban was introduced. Despite the vociferous opposition of a vocal minority, the public has accepted the ban with extraordinary enthusiasm.

Opponents were always a small minority, seeing that vast majority of people are non-smokers. Many of the smokers recognised the health hazards of their own habit and realised that it was neither fair nor proper that they should endanger the health of others by smoking tobacco in confined spaces.

Even non-smokers who were indifferent to the ban have come to appreciate the better air quality in places previously frequented by smokers. The stale smell of tobacco has become apparent to many people, since the introduction of the smoking ban.

Having allowed tobacco firms to glamorise cigarettes for generations by bombarding people with trend-setting advertising, the reality has gradually dawned on people that smoking is not only a dangerous and expensive habit, but also a foul, anti-social one. In this we have set an international trend, and we should pay due tribute to the leadership of those responsible.