Smoking has long been seen within Northern Ireland as a major public health issue - in the UK smoking kills more than 120,000 people every year - more than 13 people every hour. In Northern Ireland smoking is responsible for around 3,000 deaths per year.

In 1984, 33% of adults in Northern Ireland, aged 16 and over smoked; in 2001 this figure was 27%. There are also gender differences in smoking behaviour, in 2001, 28% of females aged 16 and over smoked and 26% of males aged 16 and over smoked. Although adult male smoking has fallen by nearly one quarter in the last 20 years, levels of smoking among young women have not fallen in the last ten years. There is also growing concern about the number of young people smoking, particularly young girls.

The British and Northern Ireland Governments are actively taking steps to encourage and support cessation among all smokers but especially those from disadvantaged groups and among pregnant women. They are also keen to continue efforts to ensure young people don't start smoking. The broad framework for these activities were initially set out in Smoking kills: A white paper on tobacco; within Northern Ireland, the recently published Five year tobacco action plan, is designed to promote activities and initiatives on a regional and local level.

The HPA continues to provide strategic advice in support of these proposals and also information to the public and health professionals. This is achieved through work in the Agency's four business areas:

• policy development and advice
• research and evaluation
• public and professional information
• training and professional development.

As with all of the HPA's work we work collaboratively with a range of other organisations who have an interest in this area.