Madam, - I was dismayed to read the remarks of the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, on the proposed ban on smoking in the workplace (The Irish Times, July 8th).
Banning poisonous tobacco smoke from the workplace, including bars and restaurants, is essential if we are to protect the health and safety of workers.
Environmental tobacco smoke causes cancer. It is also linked to increased rates of lung disease and respiratory problems in both adults and children.
No person should be exposed to these risks at their place of work.
Only last week the most senior figures in Irish medicine joined to highlight the carnage that smoking (including passive smoking) causes every year. In their considered opinion smoking is "the most preventable cause of death and disability in Ireland".
Unfortunately, Mr Walsh chose to ignore this damning evidence.
His intervention in the debate was prompted solely by concern for the profit margins of vintners, not the health of thousands of workers across the country.
Last March, Mr Walsh urged people to "take all necessary steps to minimise the risks" to the health and safety of those working in the farming sector. It is disappointing that his concern for the health and safety of workers seems to stop at the farm gate. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN DOUGLAS, National Officer, MANDATE, Dublin 1.
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Madam, - ASH Ireland is surprised and disappointed that the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, is not supporting the proposed smoking ban in the workplace, including pubs and restaurants (The Irish Times, July 7th).
In not supporting this health initiative, Mr Walsh is essentially supporting the retention of grade one carcinogens in the workplace.
ASH Ireland is not convinced that this is an appropriate stance by the Minister when the overwhelming body of international evidence about the harmful effects of passive smoke is considered.
Research accepted by the World Health Organisation indicates that passive smoke kills people and also contributes to several serious health problems including - to include cancer, heart disease, stroke and asthma.
Mr Walsh should perhaps reconsider his position on this issue and listen to the health arguments and less to the vintners. - Yours, etc.,
Prof LUKE CLANCY, Chairperson, ASH Ireland, Dublin 4.