asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce regulations or legislation to prohibit smoking in certain public places or to restrict smoking to limited and defined areas of public places such as cinemas and restaurants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Smoking Restrictions.
84.
I do not propose to introduce legislation for this purpose at this time. My policy is to restrict smoking in public places on a gradual, voluntary basis through advertising and public education campaigns aimed at gradually changing public opinion, in a non-aggressive manner, towards the rights to clean air of the non-smoker.
The Health Education Bureau's ongoing passive smoking campaign seeks to establish non-smoking areas over as wide a range of public places as possible. As the most recent phase of its campaign, the bureau has prepared marketing "packages" for hoteliers and restauranteurs who wish to provide restricted smoking facilities in a manner which will be non-offensive to their smoking patrons. The publicity material urges that concern be shown for the non-smoker and includes stickers, display cards and tent cards for tables signifying non-smoking areas.
The Health Education Bureau will be continuing its campaign to encourage the public to respect the rights of the non-smoker.