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.

“We would be extremely concerned if the minister were to roll back on his word, and if that happens it is something we would have to consider very carefully,” Mr Dennehy said.

Acknowledging that there were difficult issues with banning smoking in prisons, where over 80% of inmates smoke, Mr Dennehy, nevertheless, said prison officers should not be treated as lesser than any other employee.

“It is a very difficult situation. Prisons are our working conditions, but they are also the living environments of prisoners,” he said.

“But we should not be subject to any less protection than anyone else. How can there be a compromise? Is there going to be a compromise for public houses? We should have the same safety standards as everyone else,” Mr Dennehy continued.

“Some recreation rooms in prisons are very small areas where there is no proper ventilation, and it has a very severe impact on the health and safety of staff,” he said.

But a spokesman for Mr Martin confirmed that the minister had instructed the Health and Safety Authority and the Office of Tobacco Control to open talks with the prison service about whether the controversial smoking ban could realistically be imposed in prisons.

“Prisons and psychiatric hospitals are workplaces, but there are certain difficulties and the department is still talking with the Department of Justice regarding the issue of prisons,” he said.

“There has been no firm decision yet, but it is an unusual circumstance and is still being discussed with all parties,” the spokesman added.

The proposed ban on smoking is due to come into force in January when pubs, hotels, shops and restaurants will be obliged to eject smokers from their premises. Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison governor John Lonergan said he was deeply concerned about the impact of the ban. “Prisons are unique in that people are held against their will, so I would hope that a bit of common sense will prevail,” he said. Hospital authorities are also seeking clarification on the impact of the ban.