Smoking ban enforcement row
Controversy over Ireland's ban on smoking in all enclosed workplaces looks set to continue as provisions for enforcing the law look increasingly shaky.
Ensuring publicans and other employers comply with the ban is the task of 450 newly recruited environmental health officers (EHOs), a huge task considering Dublin alone has more than 700 pubs. But Donall O'Keeffe, chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), has called for responsibility for enforcement to be widened to customers.
"We're disappointed that no compromise was arrived at on the smoking ban, particularly in relation to enforcement," he said. "All employers have a clear responsibility under the law. It's our view that the smoker should also have a clear responsibility… a dual prosecution system will be of paramount importance."
Police will have no part in enforcing the ban, claiming they don't have sufficient resources. Employers who flout the new law face up to a g3,000 fine (£2,000). The government is threatening publicans with blocked licence renewals if they fail to uphold the ban.
