The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) announced today that in the six months since the smoke-free workplace legislation was introduced, over 94 per cent of premises inspected were compliant with the law.
According to the second Implementation Progress Report published today, nationwide compliance with the Smoke-Free Workplace legislation has been consistently high at over 90 per cent for the period April to September 2004.
A total of 26,627 inspections or compliance checks were carried out over the six month period.
The highest level of compliance occured in restaurants with 99 per cent of those checked complying with the law. Hotels were next at 94 per cent and licensed premises are complying in 91 per cent of cases.
Welcoming the report, the Chief Inspector of the OTC, Mr Dave Molloy said: "Six months on, clean, healthy smoke-free environments are now a normal part of everyone's work and social life."
"We are pleased with the consistently high levels of compliance indicated in this report which, together with recent research conducted by the Department of Health and Children reporting 95 per cent agreement that the legislation is a positive health measure, reflects how steadfast the public support for this measure remains."
Mr Molloy paid tribute to the work of environmental health officers and the health boards in building compliance with the legislation.
He added: "We are delighted with the high level of support and compliance with the legislation from employers, managers, proprietors and the public - smokers and non-smokers alike."
"Unfortunately, there have been a small number of offenders who have flouted the law and to date 11 premises have been prosecuted. In respect of persistent non-compliance with associated repeat inspections, our focus has shifted from compliance building to enforcement action."
"It is important to sustain and build on these high levels of compliance as reported today and the Inspection Programme will continue in support of this," he concluded.