Tobacco Free Ireland, the report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group, was endorsed by Government, and published in October 2013. It builds on existing tobacco control policies and legislation already in place in this country and sets a target for Ireland to be tobacco free (i.e. with a smoking prevalence rate of less than 5%) by 2025. Tobacco Free Ireland was the first policy document to be launched under the Healthy Ireland framework and will play a major part in achieving the vision set out in Healthy Ireland. The two key themes underpinning Tobacco Free Ireland are the protection of children and the denormalisation of smoking. Progress in implementing the Action Plan for Tobacco Free Ireland for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 is outlined in the table below.

Considerable progress has been made and the action plan is being implemented as published. Whilst there is substantial detail in the updates provided, some of the key achievements in 2018 were:

• In March 2018 Dublin was announced as the host of the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in 2021.
• Proactive involvement in ensuring the Public Private Partnership between the International Labour Organisation and tobacco industry were not renewed.
• The establishment of a multidisciplinary guideline development group to develop national clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of tobacco addiction.
• The increase in price and minimum excise duty on tobacco products in Budget 2019.