Ulster smoking ban comes into force

The ban in Northern Ireland's pubs, restaurants and workplaces came into effect from midnight - three years after the Irish Republic became the first European country to  prohibit public smoking.

Scotland introduced its ban in March last year and Wales began operating the policy on April 2. The smoking ban will be extended to England on July 1.

The ban was initiated in Northern Ireland by former smoker Shaun Woodward when he was Health Minister in the Northern Ireland Office.

Almost 65,000 people in the province backed the ban in a public consultation exercise - almost 91% of those who responded.

Mr Woodward's successor Paul Goggins, who will hand over the Department of Health to devolved minister Michael McGimpsey when power sharing returns to the province on May 8, said the ban would save lives.

"Second-hand smoke is a toxic cocktail of around 4,000 chemicals - many of which cause cancer," he said. "It is internationally accepted that there can be no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.

"Non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke are 20%-30% more likely to develop lung cancer - not to mention the other illnesses and diseases. By reducing our level of exposure, this legislation will improve health and save lives."

In the Irish Republic and other European nations which have since adopted a smoking ban, cigarette sales have fallen.

Bars and restaurants in Scotland and the Irish Republic have also reported massive improvements in air quality - with an 83% reduction in air pollution in Irish pubs and an 80% fall in airborne carcinogens for customers and staff.