Madam, - As Martin Cullen, Minister for the Environment, is such an adherent of the "polluter pays" principle, I look forward to seeing his proposals to ensure that smokers cough up for the cost of treating all smoking-related illnesses dealt with by the health service as well as any future liabilities found by the courts against employers for exposing their employees to passive smoking in the workplace. I have no doubt that these would remove a few clouds from the horizons of the non-smoking taxpayer and employer. - Yours, etc.,
J. WALLACE, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Madam, - I am delighted that we finally have a Government that plans to ban smoking in the workplace, especially in pubs. I worked in the pub trade for 38 years and never smoked, but I am now paying the price in health problems.
I am constantly breathless and my doctor says this is due to my years of serving behind a smoky bar counter.
Let's give this ban a chance and protect bar workers (like me). - Yours, etc.,
PAT O'CONNOR, Pairc Mhuire, Newbridge, Co Kildare.