Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 9 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 2

Written Answers. - Smoking Ban.

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

27 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions he has had with his opposite number dealing with health in Northern Ireland regarding the introduction and implementation of the smoking ban; if an effort has been made to have it introduced on an all island basis from 1 January 2004; if not, if he has given any thought as to the way in which this ban will affect the social and business activities in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22492/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Officials from my Department met with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in March of this year to discuss a number of areas of mutual interest including the proposed ban on smoking in the workplace. Officials of my Department outlined the proposal to the Northern Ireland officials. There is also ongoing co-operation between the health promotion unit of my Department and the Northern Ireland Health Promotion Agency in regard to advertising and smoking cessation measures.

My primary concern in introducing a ban on the smoking of tobacco in workplaces is to protect workers and the public from exposure to toxic environmental tobacco smoke which is an avoidable cause of disease and ill health.