Psychiatrists want flexible smoking ban

Psychiatrists are looking for special rules in relation to the implementation of the planned smoking ban.

They are seeking some form of flexibility in enforcing the law within mental health institutions and community residences.

They are claiming that the patients in these institutions, although under supervised care, are essentially at home.

Currently the Minister for Health is pressing ahead with plans to ban smoking in all workplaces from January 2004.

Chairperson of the Irish Psychiatric Association, Dr Justin Brophy is fully supportive of the ban, but wants flexibility in some cases.