The Taoiseach and the Minister for Health have been honoured by the American Cancer Society (ACS) for their "vision and courage" in introducing the workplace smoking ban.
At a ceremony in Dublin this evening, the chief executive of the ACS, Mr John Seffrin, said Mr Ahern and Mr Martin had made Ireland an example to the rest of the world in the global fight against cancer.
Ireland has achieved the admirable accomplishment of protecting its workers from a lethal substance to which no person, wherever he or she works, should have to be exposed," said Mr Seffrin.
He said the smoking legislation took "both vision and courage" and lives will be saved because of the new laws, which was introduced on March 29th.
Mr Ahern said he was "pleased" at how quickly people have adapted to the new legislation and commended employers and trade unions for supporting it.
"This initiative has the support of the majority of people in Ireland, smokers and non-smokers alike and the public must be congratulated for their immediate, positive response to it," he said.
Representatives of the American Cancer Society are currently visiting Ireland to explore ways in it can collaborate with the All-Ireland Cancer Consortium. The consortium, which was established four years ago, fosters cancer control and research among medical staff from throughout the island of Ireland.