Council rejects plan on smoking

A DEMAND for an internal smoking facility in the County Hall to light up when new laws come in next January, ended up in smoke. Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe failed to find a seconder among Fianna Fáil colleagues when he tabled a motion at the council seeking a smoking room.

Possibly knowing the motion would set off alarm bells, the Mitchelstown -based councillor asked what image the new workplace legislation would present to the public.

“Imagine coming into the carpark and possibly seeing up to 150 staff out for a smoke in the carpark. Passers-by will also probably wonder ‘What’s going on there?’ Fianna Fáil’s Donal O’Rourke declared: “I would asked Cllr O’Keeffe to withdraw the motion. It’s not reflective of Fianna Fáil policies,” he said.

“The proposed legislation is obviously hurting Fianna Fail,” suggested John O’Shea of Fine Gael.

Labour’s John Mulvihill said Fianna Fáil had a cheek to seek support in the chamber for smoking in County Hall when none of its members were prepared to back a motion at a previous meeting calling for an easing of the ban to allow smoking in psychiatric hospitals.

The council’s senior executive officer for consumer affairs, Maurice Manning advised members the draft proposals made it clear smoking would be prohibited in County Hall as it was considered a place of work.