Unions back workplace smoking ban

THE three largest unions in the country yesterday endorsed moves to ban smoking in the workplace.

They called on all Dáil deputies to back Health Minister Micheál Martin’s proposal to impose a ban.

In a letter to all TDs, unions SIPTU, IMPACT and MANDATE said the recent proposal by Junior Minister Noel Davern to allocate one-third of pub space to smokers would not work as bar staff would still be vulnerable to passive smoking.