Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:318 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children if publicans and their staff will personally have to enforce the smoking regulations in their own premises. [6868/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 2 March 2004
Ceisteanna (240)
Freagraí scríofa
The owner, manager or person in charge of a workplace is legally responsible for ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements, including the prohibition on smoking in the workplace. The Office of Tobacco Control has drawn up guidelines for the licensed trade to help owners, managers and staff with the introduction of the new measure. The office consulted with the trade in preparing the guidelines and these will be accessible on its website today. The emphasis will be on compliance building and providing guidance and information to people in the sector. As part of the process of monitoring compliance with the smoke-free workplace requirement, authorised officers from the health boards and the Office of Tobacco Control will visit premises. I expect that the vast majority of employers, employees and the public will respect the new measures, which are primarily to protect people from exposure to toxic environmental tobacco smoke.