In many countries smoking was banned earlier than in other countries. However anti-tobacco researchers found that earlier introduction of ban did little for to reduce smoking rates.

For example researchers found that more people continue to smoke in the Republic than in Northern Ireland, despite the earlier introduction of the smoking ban here.

Researchers showed in a recent study that the workplace smoking ban in the Republic in 2004 has done little to reduce overall smoking rates.

The study also revealed that despite having a reputation as a nation of drinkers, people in the South drink considerably less than their near neighbors.

According to the study, the success of the Republic’s smoking ban has firstly been introduced for to reduce the passive smoking risks rather than in reaching a fall in overall smoking rates.

Despite the introduction of the smoking ban, 29 percent of people in the Republic were still smokers compared with 26 percent of smokers in the North where a similar ban came into effect in April 2007, the latest research showed. The effects of the workplace ban in the North have yet to be estimated, but the percentage of smokers there fell to 6 percent from 32 percent in 2003 and to 26 percent in 2005.

When it comes to smoking cessation, the study shows that while more than half of smokers in the North had been warned to quit smoking by health professionals, only 34 percent of their counterparts in the Republic were similarly advised. Prof Hannah McGee, deputy director of research at the RCSI, said: "It’s disappointing that smoking levels haven’t moved meaningly in the Republic of Ireland since the ban came in."

As it is known, cigarettes are relatively more expensive in Northern Ireland than in South, with a packet costing the equivalent of one- and-a-half hour’s work compared to one hour in the Republic, so this may be one factor of why smokers percent differ.

Another significant factor which helped to reduce the smoking rate in Northern Ireland is that GPs in the North are more likely to encourage people to stop smoking.