Vol. 462 No. 5
93 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the non-smoking regulations, particularly in bingo halls, that are being ignored throughout the country; and the action, if any, he is prepared to take to ensure that these regulations are adhered to. [4822/96]
The Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Regulations 1995 are enforced mainly by officers of the health boards. While I am aware that this enforcement is temporarily affected by an industrial dispute by environmental health officers, the normal position would be that the owner, manager or other person in charge of a facility, who failed to take reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the prohibitions set out in the regulations would be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £500 and/or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months.
