Health board to prosecute pub over smoking ban

THE Southern Health Board has confirmed it is to take its first prosecution against a pub for not complying with the smoking ban.

Officials said yesterday they are also preparing objections to a number of pub licences at annual renewal hearings because the law introduced on March 29 last has been flouted.

A health board spokeswoman refused to name the pub which is to be prosecuted. However, it is understood it is in County Cork and the case is expected to come before the courts next month.

The SHB will allege that its inspectors visited the premises a number of times and issued several warnings to the owner which were repeatedly ignored.

To date 3,000 inspections have been made by the board; 2,000 of them were in Cork and 1,000 in Kerry.

“The level of compliance to the smoking ban in the Southern Health Board region has, to date, been very high. The emphasis in the initial period has been to work with employers to advise them on the ban,” an SHB spokeswoman said.

However, she added that several warnings had been issued to publicans in recent months.

“In response a number of proprietors have provided undertakings that they will comply with all the provisions of the Public Health Tobacco Acts,” the spokes-woman said.

The health board has warned that those who continue to flout the legislation will be vigorously pursued and “serious consequences” will follow.

Officials say they are prepared to draw on all the powers of the High Court, including seeking injunctions if necessary.

Bar-owners are obliged to have signs clearly displaying smoking is not allowed on their premises. Failure to do this could result in a maximum fine of €6,000 in respect of each visit by health board inspectors.

In addition, if a premises is found to be flouting the law on four separate occasions a fine of up to €24,000 can be imposed.