Prison officers insist jails must be smoke-free

CONCESSIONS to the proposed smoking ban allowing inmates to continue smoking in prison must not be allowed, the Prison Officers Association (POA) has said.

Reacting to weekend reports that prisons could escape Micheál Martin’s plans to ban smoking in public houses and workplaces, POA deputy general secretary Eugene Dennehy said there was no room for compromise.

Mr Dennehy insisted the ban had to be implemented in full regardless of any difficulties. “You just can’t say it can’t be done because it would create a bit of hassle or trouble,” he said.