Minister announces NI smoking ban
28/06/2005 - 10:37:53A smoking ban is to be introduced in the North later this year, health minister Shaun Woodward confirmed today.
However, Mr Woodward is to take another few months to decide whether a blanket ban on smoking in all public enclosed places will be introduced or a partial ban, allowing smoking in pubs which do not serve food.
The Northern Ireland Office Minister announced his plan during a keynote address on the future of the health service in the province.
He told the chief executives of Northern Ireland’s health boards and trusts at a hotel in Stormont: “The remaining few months will be about whether it is a total ban or a partial ban.
“And we have to examine how to enforce such a ban.
“We want the public on our side. We have to look at how such a comprehensive ban would affect businesses which depend on a licensed trade, on hotels, on the tourist trade, and what about prisons? Psychiatric institutions?
“That won’t take long.”
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