Phase out prison smoking, says boss

SMOKING in prisons should be banned on a phased basis, the prison services director general Seán Aylward said yesterday.

Mr Aylward said an overnight ban will be very difficult to enforce, particularly as prisoners remain in their cell 14-hours a day.

But despite ongoing talks between the Department of Health and the prison officers , a spokesperson for the department said there was no possibility that prisons would be exempted from the workplace smoking ban.