Sir, – Most reasonably minded people welcome the extra protection that will be given to children’s health with the introduction on January 1st next of the smoking ban in vehicles carrying children.
We in Ireland led the way with the workplace smoking ban. It has saved many lives here since its introduction and many further afield have been saved, when similar measures were adopted by other countries.
Perhaps we could keep to the forefront of children’s health protection if we took the lead from the Tasmanian parliament, which is in the process of introducing a tobacco-free generation. It is very serious about protecting children’s health and it now intends, by means of a rolling ban, to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after the year 2000. – Yours, etc,
ROBERT CARTY,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – Regarding the Protection of Children's Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Act 2014, under the Act, "drivers who smoke in cars in the company of children will face prosecution from January 1st" (December 17th). Does this mean that a 17-year-old person who is caught smoking while driving his or her own car will face prosecution? It would seem so,because the act regards persons under the age of 18 as children. – Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – A recent Government initiative banning smoking in cars in which children are being carried was publicised with a child holding a placard that read, “It’s against the law, Dad”. Apart from the blatant sexism of the slogan, it ignores the mounting statistical evidence that smoking is on the increase among females rather than males in recent years. But try substituting the word “Mum” instead of “Dad” in this context and the airwaves and social media would flare into rage with the indignant wails of the sisterhood. Equality, anyone? – Yours, etc,
JG LACEY,
Renmore,
Co Galway.