John Gormley
Question:132 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to ban smoking in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12108/03]
Written Answers. - Smoking Ban.
On 30 January 2003 I launched the report on the Health Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke, ETS, in the Workplace which was commissioned by the Office of Tobacco Control and the Health and Safety Authority. One of the issues dealt with in the report is the effectiveness of ventilation and the expert advice is that current ventilation technologies are inadequate to give workers full protection from the hazards of tobacco smoke and that exposure can best be controlled by banning smoking in places of work. Acting on this advice I published draft regulations to provide for a prohibition on the smoking of tobacco products in all places of work which will come into operation on 1 January 2004.
As the Deputy will be aware, smoking is already prohibited or restricted in a wide range of workplace situations under the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Regulations 1995.