Hospital smoking ban not enforceable

You report that “a complete ban on smoking in hospitals and on adjoining grounds in the Mid-West comes into force this Thursday” (Irish Examiner, May 29).

It begs the questions, “what is the justification for this?” and “have they the authority to do so?”.

These hospitals are public property, owned by smokers and non-smokers alike. Up to one-third of their patients, staff and visitors at any time are likely to be smokers.