FG chair ‘sceptical’ on car smoking ban enforcement
The Cabinet agreed this week to back proposals, originally put forth in the Seanad, to ban smoking in cars with children.
Dr Reilly hopes to legislate for the ban in the autumn.
However, Mr Flanagan last night raised questions about the plans.
The Laois-Offaly TD told the Irish Examiner he backed the proposals in general, but said the law would be difficult to police.
“I’d like to hear from Minister Reilly about what proposals will be there in relation to the enforcement,” he said.
“On the face of it, it is a difficult undertaking. The easier part is putting it in legislation, the difficulty is enforcing it.
“Are we going to have a special force to police it? Will the gardaí, environmental officers, or the HSE be involved in policing it?
“While I agree with it in principle, I’m a bit sceptical about it being enforced.”
The Bill will be brought through the Seanad but it will require considerable amendments.
It was originally launched by senators John Crown, Jillian van Turnhout, and Mark Daly.
They propose that gardaí would police the law in a similar manner to the present smoking ban.
Robust legislation will be needed, say ministerial sources, which will rule out any claims that a car is a private area in relation to the ban and which will also be enforced against passengers smoking.
Other changes will centre on road traffic or health legislation and issues around the proof of age of car occupants.
The 2002 ban on smoking in the workplace in Ireland was quickly followed by other countries and authorities, including in other EU states as well as in New York in the US.
Wales is currently also examining proposals for legislation to ban smoking in vehicles.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke.
Exposure can increase the risk of cot death, asthma and other respiratory diseases or even the rate of childhood cancers or of adult cancers occurring later in life.
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