The number of Irish smokers is continuing to decline, according to research presented yesterday.
A study by TNS mrbi has found that just 24 per cent of the population now smokes, compared to 27 per cent last year and 31 per cent in 1998.
The research, based on monthly interviews of 1,000 people over the age of 15 since July last year, was presented at a seminar in Dublin organised by the Office of Tobacco Control.
On hearing the findings, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, declared he was winning the battle against tobacco smoke. And he said he hoped further research presented to the seminar, which estimated the cost of smoking to the Irish economy at between €1 million and €5 million a day, would further boost the campaign to cut smoking rates.
It was a "staggering figure" which did not even include the cost to the health service of treating smoking-related illness, he said. It certainly strengthened the case for a workplace ban on smoking, which he intends introducing in January, he added.
The figure was presented by Dr David Madden, senior economics lecturer at University College, Dublin. He did not carry out new primary research but adapted existing studies from other countries such as Germany and the Netherlands and then measured costs in the Republic.
He said the figure depended on factors including excess absenteeism owing to smoking, costs arising from lower productivity and from output foregone owing to premature death of workers.
If the cost of increased absenteeism and smoking breaks alone were considered, he estimated that workplace smoking cost the Irish economy €385 million in 2002. If other factors, including lost output as a result of premature death were taken into account, the figure could rise to €2 billion, he said.
OTC chairman Dr Michael Boland said the findings indicated it made good business sense for employers to support workers who wanted to quit smoking. The Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance, which opposes an outright ban on smoking in workplaces, said it would study the findings before making any comment.