Ciarán Cuffe
Question:475 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to prevent smoking on public transport. [11842/03]
Vol. 566 No. 1
475 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to prevent smoking on public transport. [11842/03]
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. Dublin Bus has also advised that in 2002 this operation resulted in 80 prosecutions with fines ranging from €50 to €240. I am advised that Dublin Bus proposes to continue with this type of covert monitoring operation this year. This approach is a very positive one and deserves our full support.