This Bill, which was introduced into Seanad Éireann on 3rd May 2012, will prohibit the smoking of tobacco products in vehicles where people under the age of eighteen are present. It provides for the investigation and prosecution of these offences by members of an Garda Síochána.
The Bill amends the provisions of section 47 (8) of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 which sets out the specified places in which the smoking of a tobacco product is prohibited. The list already contains a place of work, the definition of which in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, includes a vehicle.
Speaking in respect of World No Smoking Day which took place on 31st May 2012, Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly said that intends to seek to ban smoking in public such as beaches and parks in order to protect our children. He continued by saying “I hope such a move will assist in the process of de-normalising smoking and will help prevent young people from taking up the habit in the first place.” It is therefore to be expected that further legislative measures in relation to tobacco control will be introduced in the coming months.