Is smacking children still somewhat socially acceptable in Ireland despite being illegal?

So I am Italian and here despite this thing being illegal in the whole EU it is still a bit socially acceptable in some areas, and this thing is common in many other countries as far as I know having met some other Europeans. I also have an Irish friend (25) that told me that him and the majority of his friends have been smacked occasionally. Maybe it is even because he is half Turkish but how is physical discipline seen in Ireland nowadays?