Smoking has been banned in Irish workplaces since March

Smoking has been banned in workplaces, including pubs and restaurants, in the Irish Republic since the end of March.

Padraig Folan, who runs a pub in the village of Lettermore, Connemara, was fined 1,200 euros for breaching the legislation and ordered to pay 500 euros in costs.

Derrynea Court was told on Tuesday that an environmental health officer who visited Mr Folan's pub in April had issued warnings after discovering cigarette butts on the floor.

The officer returned to the premises in May and found three customers smoking at the bar.

Mr Folan told the court that he had "great difficulty" in enforcing the legislation.

Last month, the owners of a pub in western Ireland that had been flouting the country's smoking ban backed down in the face of threatened legal action.

The owners of Fibber Magee's pub in the centre of Galway City said the ban was destroying business, but agreed to comply after taking legal advice.

If customers are caught smoking in pubs, restaurants and other enclosed workplaces, proprietors will now face fines of up to 3,000 euros (�2,000).

Growing pressure

The Irish Republic's experiment with strict anti-smoking legislation has been closely followed abroad, with Norway introducing similar legislation last month.

There has also been growing pressure for Northern Ireland to follow suit.

Earlier this month, Newry-based doctor Peter Maguire handed in a petition at Downing Street calling for the British Government to introduce a similar ban.

He says his own experiences as an anaesthetist turned him into an anti-smoking activist, and he now travels south for a smoke-free pint.

The BMA's petition was signed by more than 4,000 of Dr Maguire's colleagues.

The Northern Ireland Office has closed more than 140 smoking rooms in its own buildings, meaning that jails are the only government buildings in the province where you can smoke.