Smoking ban to start at the end of March
Monday, 26 January 2004 18:39
The ban on smoking in the workplace is likely to be in place by the end of March, and the date will be announced once the first deadline for objections expires next week.
Close observers believe the Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin, will move to implement the ban as soon as legally possible, while giving industry and health groups time to put preparations in place.
Today was the day that the smoking ban was supposed to be introduced, as it was the date set by the minister when he signed the statutory instrument last October.
However, in November, following advice from the Attorney General's office, amendments to the original blanket ban were made - exempted 'dwellings' were extended to include hotel bedrooms, psychiatric hospitals, Bed & Breakfasts, hospices, the Central Mental Hospital and prisons.
The amended regulations were notified to the European Commission, and member states were given three months to raise objections.
The deadline for the exemption on prisons expires on 4 February - for the others on 16 February.
It is believed that by the end of next week, the Minister will be in a position to announce the date of the ban.
It is expected he will give a lead-in time of six to eight weeks from then.
