Written Answers. - Smoking Prohibition.
Seamus Brennan
Ceist:
66
Mr. S. Brennan
asked the
Minister for Health
the additional places which will have prohibited or restricted smoking sections under the new proposals; if places offering bingo will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18498/95]
The following is a full list of the places where smoking will be prohibited or restricted under new regulations which I will be making shortly and which will come into effect on January 1 next. Bingo halls are included among the wide range of entertainment facilities in which smoking will be prohibited.
Smoking is a major cause of cancer and cardiovascular disease which the health strategy identified as the two main causes of illness and premature death in the country. The new controls on smoking will contribute to reducing the incidence of smoking and exposure to passive smoking. Promoting a smoke-free environment is an important safeguard in protecting public health.
Places where smoking will be prohibited: the circulation space including stairways, escalators, lifts, corridors, landings and concourse areas, as well as offices to which the public has access and conference/meeting rooms within buildings or premises (other than hotels) which belong to, or are in the occupation of the State, or a body, established by or under an Act of the Oireachtas; any part of a pre-school, creche, play-group, day nursery or other service which caters for pre-school children, any part of a primary or secondary school (including the school yard), save that smoking may be permitted where specific facilities, other than classrooms or recreation rooms, are provided for staff to smoke; any part of the buildings of third level educational institutions, except licensed premises therein and in specific facilities other than classrooms, lecture theatres or recreation rooms provided for staff or students to smoke; the kitchens and food preparation areas in hotels, restaurants, cafes, snack bars, retail and licensed premises in which food is stored or prepared for human consumption; the retail, storage and food preparation areas in supermarkets, grocery stores and butchers premises; waiting rooms in railway and bus stations; the auditoriums of cinemas, theatres, and of premises which are purpose built or adapted for the holding of concerts for public entertainment, specific areas (including playing areas and circulation space) within premises which are used for the playing of bingo and bridge; the indoor spectator and games areas in sports centres and the games area in ten-pin bowling alleys; State-owned art galleries and museums, public libraries; child care centres, hospitals, nursing homes, long stay geriatric homes, maternity homes, centres for the mentally handicapped and for the physically handicapped and other health facilities such as residential and day care centres other than psychiatric hospitals, except where specific facilities are provided for staff to smoke; doctors' and dentists' waiting rooms, and retail pharmacies; public access areas in banks, building societies and other retail financial agencies, public access areas in hairdressing salons and barber shops; the DART and Arrow train services, in taxis and hackney cabs, all public service vehicles owned or operated by Bus Éireann and by Bus Átha Cliath, privately owned transport vehicles used by the public which have a seating capacity for eight persons or more and which are engaged in the transport of persons for financial reward.
Places where smoking will be restricted: psychiatric hospitals — whatever size is deemed appropriate by the hospital management; two-thirds of the seating area in trains (other than DART and Arrow), aircraft, passenger ferries, and the Arrivals and Departures areas in airports and harbours; restaurants, canteens, cafes and snack-bars — at present, and until May 1, 1996, the size of the no-smoking area is at the discretion of the management. From that date, the area will have to be either — at least one-half of the seating area or — at least one quarter of the seating area where the health board is satisfied that the ventilation or air filtration system is adequate to prevent the circulation of tobacco smoke into the no-smoking area.
