Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 3

Written Answers. - Smoking Regulations.

Peter Barry

Question:

219 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health if he has studied the implications of the recent passive smoking compensation award of £15,000 to a British local council employee; the implications, if any, he envisages arising from this for this country; if there are proposals to follow the Canadian example concerning smoking in public, State and federal buildings, transport and other such areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Peter Barry

Question:

228 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health if he has held or intends to initiate talks, with employers concerning the need to introduce regulations concerning no smoking policies in the workplace; his views on whether these steps are appropriate at the present time; his views on whether passive smokers should continue to tolerate present conditions in workshops, factories and offices; if the likelihood of litigation from passive smokers puts a new perspective into unfettered smoking; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 219 and 228 together.

Ireland already has a voluntary code, which deals with smoking control policies in the workplace. It was drawn up by a Consultative Committee and is contained in the booklet "Clean Air at Work", a copy of which I will arrange to have forwarded to the Deputy. The code which was launched in October 1992 has been widely circulated. The Consultative Committee was representative of employers, workers and other interested parties and the code was endorsed by each group. It will obviously be some time before the effectiveness or otherwise of the code becomes apparent. In the meantime I am considering the need to review the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Regulations, 1990 with a view to increasing their effectiveness and scope. The regulations deal with smoking in designated places such as public offices, cinemas, health premises, aircraft, trains etc. I will, of course, bear in mind all pertinent factors, including recent legal cases, in this regard. My primary concern is the protection of public health and the Deputy can be assured of my determination to ensure that the measures which have been introduced to reduce tobacco consumption through prohibitions/restrictions on areas in which it is permitted to smoke; the curtailment of content in advertising and restrictions on sponsorship as well as the capping of advertising and sponsorship budgets, and other measures implemented over many years will be augmented by whatever new developments I consider necessary in the interest of promoting and protecting the public health.