The Minister for Health, Micheál Martin, has rejected claims that his handling of the ban on smoking in the workplace has been ‘inept’.
Mr Martin told the Dáil today that while there have been no objections to the proposed ban from other EU states, he would not be announcing the date for its implementation until the three month ‘standstill’ period concludes on 4 February.
Labour's Liz McManus said that despite the support the ban received from the Opposition and a majority of the public, the Minister had ‘failed miserably’ to deliver the ban he had promised.
Deputy McManus also asked would new legislation be required to allow Health and Safety Officers to enforce the ban in workplaces which did not serve food or drink, where Environmental Health Officers will implement it.
The minister said that the Office of Tobacco Control already has the power to authorise HSOs to perform this work.
