Sir, - Patrick Smyth reports (July 24th) from Brussels that the Minister for Health, Mr. Michael Noonan, has called on the EU to step up its campaign against smoking. During the current Presidency of the European Union, there are a number of vital smoking related issues that European Health Ministers can take action on, and we welcome - Minister Noonan's and Commissioner Flynn's commitment to a wide ranging number of measures to reduce the prevalence of smoking. However, ASH Ireland would like to suggest that Mr. Noonan attends to one matter closer to home, in addition to targeting Europe wide problems.
Ireland has some excellent anti tobacco legislation i.e. the tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Regulations, 1995 and the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act, 1988. Penalties for failing to comply include fines of up to £500 and/or six months in prison. Since early this year, the environmental health officers of the Department of Health have not, due to industrial action, enforced any legislation passed since 1981 in this field. Therefore, when breaches of the legislation take place, there is no action that can be taken.
The Department of Health employs less than 300 environmental health officers. An urgent settlement of their industrial dispute is needed, so that the excellent legislation is actually enforced and action can be taken against those who choose to disregard it. - Yours etc.,
Administrator,
ASH Ireland - Action on Smoking and Health
5 Northumberland Road,
Dublin 4.