Mary Upton
Question:150 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 223 of 27 June 2002, the position in regard to this matter. [4133/03]
Written Answers. - Smoking Regulations.
Smoking is prohibited on all public service vehicles owned or operated by Dublin Bus. Under Dublin Bus by-laws authorised persons, including inspectors, drivers and conductors, have powers to enforce regulations in this area. I am advised that Dublin Bus currently operates plain clothes monitoring to detect breaches of smoking by-laws on its services. In 2002 this operation resulted in 80 prosecutions with fines ranging from €50 to €240. In a number of cases the Probation Act was applied.
Dublin Bus proposes to continue with this type of covert monitoring operation this year. To date legal proceedings against 27 individuals have been initiated. This approach is a very positive one and deserves our full support. It is in everyone's interest that the prohibition on smoking on bus services is observed and enforced to ensure protection of passengers and Dublin Bus personnel from the harmful effects of toxic environmental tobacco smoke.