Minister: Playground smoking ban 'a matter for local authorities'
Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald today said that it is up to local authorities to impose regulations against smoking in public parks and playgrounds, not the Government.
Minister Frances Fitzgerald said that she supports efforts by her colleague, Health Minister James Reilly, to ban smoking in cars with children.
However, when asked if a law should be brought in against smoking in parks, Minister Fitzgerald said this should be a matter for regulation, not full legislation:
"When it comes to the wider community, in parks and beaches, that's going to be dealt with by regulation," she said.
"But in fact the point is that we do need to be extremely conscious of the impact of cigarette smoking on young children, so the debate is welcome.
"But it's a regulation issue for local authorities, not legislation."
