The smoking ban is 10 years old this week and the Health Minister says banning smoking in cars carrying children is the crucial next step.

Health groups say the ban on smoking in workplaces, pubs and restaurants has saved thousands of lives and helped cut the rate of smokers in Ireland from 33% to 22% of the public.

Minister James Reilly says it was only the first step on a long road and wants to make Ireland 'smoke free' by 2025.

He says banning smoking in cars carrying children is the vital next step.

"Nobody has the right to injure their child - they just don't have that right" he said.

"This is not about being a nanny-state, this is about protecting children until they're old enough - over the age of 18 - to make these decisions for themselves".

"Who could possibly stand over a situation where there's a 3-year-old strapped into the back of a car, and adults puffing away in the front?".

"It's just obscene, to be quite honest" he added.

Mr. Reilly also said he is "very concerned" at marketing of e-cigarettes.

Meanwhile the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is calling for a complete smoking ban in cars with children in them. The RCPI also wants all publicly funded institutions - especially hospitals and college campuses - to be completely smoke free.

Chair of the Tobacco Policy Group, Dr. Pat Doorley says more improvements can be made if the government increase taxes on tobacco in the next budget.

The government says the workplace ban had a "significant impact internationally", with several countries - including the UK - following Ireland’s example. Research by the National Tobacco Control Office shows that compliance with the legislation is at 97%.