ASH Ireland drives campaign for tobacco-free society

ASH Ireland is primarily an advocacy group – entirely focused on the creation of a tobacco free society. The organisation has taken a leading role since its foundation in encouraging successive governments to change legislation, which will restrict the use and harmful impact of tobacco and nicotine on Irish society.

Such campaigns include:

• The workplace smoking ban
• Restrictions on advertising and promotion
• Increasing health warnings on tobacco
• Encouraging the government to recover funds from the tobacco industry unnecessarily spent on tobacco related illness
• A ban on smoking in cars which contain children

ASH Ireland has the support of its two funding organisations, the Irish Heart Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society in its advocacy work. ASH Ireland has also worked with a wide range of other advocacy groups in campaigns – such as the drive for the workplace smoking legislation.

Legislators

As part of its advocacy work, ASH Ireland endeavours to make contact with relevant government Ministers and policy-makers as part of the process of keeping the legislators informed.

ASH Ireland works with other like-minded organisations aims to inform union leaders and employer groups, about the risks associated with tobacco use.

ASH Ireland maintains contact with international bodies, especially in Europe and the USA, that are examining ways on limiting the global impact of tobacco – and assessing if ideas and methods used elsewhere could be of benefit in the Irish context.