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.