Seán Power
Ceist:238 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he is taking to enforce the ban on smoking in hospitals and other areas where smoking is prohibited.
Written Answers. - Hospitals Smoking Ban.
The Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Regulations, 1990, provide for restriction and prohibition of smoking in certain designated public places. Article 7, Part III of the regulations applies in the case of hospitals and other health facilities. This article provides for the designation of certain clearly identified areas where smoking is prohibited. It is a matter for each hospital authority to decide on the areas most appropriate within the hospital for such designation. Enforcement arrangements have been put in place involving environment health officers employed by health boards.
The regulations are, by and large, strictly enforced in hospitals and other health institutions and persons who do not observe the rules on the prohibition on smoking in such areas are liable to prosecution.