Minister announces NI smoking ban
A 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.”
