Minister to inform EC about smoking ban exemptions

Health Minister Micheál Martin is expected to notify the European Commission today about his planned amendments to the proposed ban on smoking in the workplace.

Mr Martin confirmed last week that prisons, garda cells, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals and hotel bedrooms would be among a number of workplaces exempt from the proposed ban.

The inclusion of the exemptions in the legislation governing the ban is expected to delay its implementation until the middle of February.

The ban was originally due to come into force on January 1.