Fines for smoking in car with kids will be enforced from January

The Government will today confirm that, from the start of the new year, anyone caught smoking in a car with children present will face prosecution.

Children’s Minister James Reilly and Health Minister Leo Varadkar will also give the media an outline of the fines that will be applicable for the offence.

Plans for the fines have been in place for some time; in April 2014, it was reported that James Reilly — at that time the health minister — had agreed to fast-track legislation to ban people smoking in cars carrying children. This came after the Seanad had passed the “Protection of Children’s Health from Tobacco Smoke Bill”, which had been initiated by senator and medical consultant John Crown and supported by senators Jillian Van Turnhout and Mark Daly.