section_path: Cabinet career (1997–2011)/Minister for Health and Children (2000–2004)
section_name: Minister for Health and Children (2000–2004)
paragraph_text: Minister for Health and Children (2000–2004)
  
  In a cabinet reshuffle in January 2000, Martin was appointed Minister for Health and Children. Martin's predecessor, Brian Cowen, described the position as "like being in Angola ", because 'landmines' can go off at any time.
  
  Despite tough opposition, Martin introduced a ban on tobacco smoking in all Irish workplaces, including pubs and restaurants. On 30 January 2003 he announced his intention to have the ban in place on 1 January 2004. He visited New York in September 2003 to look at how a similar ban worked there, and signed the UN's framework convention on tobacco control at their headquarters. The smoking ban was introduced on 29 March 2004, making Ireland the first country in the world to introduce a blanket ban on smoking in the workplace. On 4 September 2004 Martin was presented with an award for his work on the smoking ban by the European Respiratory Society in Glasgow.
  
  He introduced an overhaul of the health system, which included the abolition of the health boards and the establishment of the Health Service Executive (HSE). He deregulated the country's pharmacies on 31 January 2002.
  
  In October 2003, Martin promised to examine cases of symphysiotomy in Irish hospitals which occurred during the 1940s and 1950s, and offered free health care to those affected.