Republic of Ireland overwhelmingly in favour of extending marriage rights to same-sex couples. On 23 May 2015, Ireland became the first country to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote. Ireland became the first country in the world to introduce an environmental levy for plastic shopping bags in 2002 and a public smoking ban in 2004. Recycling in Ireland is carried out extensively, and Ireland has the second highest rate of packaging recycling in the European Union. It was the first country in Europe to ban incandescent lightbulbs in 2008 and the first EU country to ban in-store tobacco advertising and product display in
Scouting Ireland of related matters. Four senior figures in Scouting Ireland voluntarily stepped away temporarily from their roles in mid-April 2018, pending a barrister-led review of certain matters. Still standing aside as of November 2018, these are the Chief Scout, re-elected in early April 2018, two Chief Commissioners, and a member of National Management Committee. The Minister Children partially restored State funding in June 2018. Funding was again suspended when the Chief Scout was invited to chair an EGM called to reform governance structures, and again restored after the meeting voted in favour of proposed changes, and the entire Board stood down,