Details of anti-smoking legislation to be introduced by the Minster for Health Mr Martin were announced today.
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Mr Mícheal Martin
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Measures provided for include the banning of cigarette-vending machines, outlawing the sale of packets of 10 and raising the legal age to buy tobacco products form 16 to 18.
Fines for selling cigarettes to under-18s are to be tripled to £1,500.
Other measures include making nicotine replacement therapies available free to medical card-holders from April.
Mr Martin has described his Tobacco Billas the most comprehensive anti-smoking policy ever introduced in the State.
Its release comes on Ash Wednesday, designated as National No-Smoking Day. Over 7,000 people die from tobacco-related illnesses in the Republic every year.
Speaking at the launch of the Construction Employment Heath Trust annual Kick the Habit smoking competition today, Mr Martin said: "Attitudes to smoking are changing and I am determined to encourage people, particularly young teenagers, not to take up the habit. Equally, I am anxious to do all that I can to encourage those who do smoke to quit."
The Construction Employment Heath Trust’s Kick the project, run in collaboration with the Irish Heart Foundation, the Irish Cancer Society and Department of Health and Children, aims to reduce the high percentage (44%) of the 40,000 construction workers who smoke.
The Minister said smoking has been the largest one-dimensional topic focused on by the Department’s the Health Promotion Unit.
But he said this alone will not dissuade people from smoking. He said it is only through joint efforts by health professionals and the general public, such as the Construction Industry competition, that a reduction in the incidence of smoking can be achieved.
