Madam, - That IBEC, one of the so-called social partners, has come out against the ban on smoking in all workplaces should come as no surprise. Regrettably IBEC has a long history of working against bans on smoking in the workplace.
It was heavily involved in pushing for a voluntary (unworkable) code of practice during the debate on this issue in 1994. In addition, it has successfully used its muscle at the Health and Safety Authority to minimise action on smoking in the workplace.
What is surprising, though, is that IBEC is accepting the tobacco industry's position that more research is needed to prove the link between passive smoke and harm to health. Even the Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance now accepts that passive smoke causes disease. Is there no one left in IBEC with a bit of independent thought or pride - or, indeed, no one listening to the views of health experts and the World Health Organisation? IBEC has a responsibility to stop playing games with people's lives in the interests of supporting the views of some of its members.
More worrying, though, is the silence from one of the other social partners. With the notable exception of MANDATE, SIPTU and the POA, public support for Mr Martin's initiative to protect the health of workers from passive smoke has come predominantly from the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Heart Foundation and ASH Ireland and the majority of the public.
Now the holiday period is over, perhaps we soon might hear the ICTU roar. Even a whimper would help in the battle to defend the health of workers against passive smoke. - Yours, etc.,
Dr FENTON HOWELL,
ASH Ireland,
Dublin 4.