Vol. 571 No. 1
856 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the American Environmental Protection Agency study on environmental tobacco smoke was found by the federal courts in the USA to have, knowingly, wilfully and aggressively disseminated false information with far reaching regulatory implications in the United States and world-wide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19980/03]
My decision to prohibit smoking in the workplace is based on the recommendations of the report on the health effects of environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace which was prepared by an independent scientific working group. There is an overwhelming international scientific consensus which has repeatedly confirmed environmental tobacco smoke as a preventable cause of death and disability. The published report shows that the independent scientific working group reviewed a large number of studies already carried out on this issue before making its recommendations.
