British MPs briefed on smoking ban's success
A group of British politicians arrived in Dublin tonight to investigate the success of the ban on smoking in public places.
The all-party parliamentary group on smoking and health will meet former Health Minister Micheál Martin, anti-smoking campaigners and trade unionists to discuss how the fledgling law has been received.
The visit follows a similar trip by Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell, who said the clear popularity of the ban and the level of compliance had been overwhelming and hugely influential.
A British government white paper is due to be published next month although it is expected to stop short of ordering a total ban on smoking in all workplaces.
David Taylor, chairman of the group, said: “The smoke-free law in Ireland is clearly popular and is already bringing health benefits due to the fall in smoking.
“Our delegation will be meeting the people who helped to bring about this landmark legislation.
“We hope to learn from our Irish colleagues and will seek to apply the lessons learned from Ireland to the UK.”
Deborah Arnott, director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), claimed the Irish law had been one of the best things to happen in public health policy for many years.
She expressed hopes that MPs and peers from the all-party group would take valuable lessons back to Britain to help inform the content and debate around the forthcoming White Paper on public health.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has called for the ban to be extended over the border, claiming it would be a major step towards a health-conscious society.
MEPs Bairbre de Brun and Mary Lou McDonald said the success of the ban in the Republic was proof that such such legislation in the North would be practical and beneficial to the health of all workers.
“A recent study found that 7,000 people in the South have given up smoking or attempted too since the introduction of the smoking ban,” they said. “This provides us with yet more evidence of the benefits of such legislation.
“The success of the smoking ban in the 26 counties should provide the catalyst for such an approach in the six counties, for the sake of the health and well-being of all our citizens.”
Former Stormont minister SDLP MLA Carmel Hanna has also made persistent calls for an all-Ireland ban.
