The public are to be asked for their views on the proposed ban on smoking in the workplace.
Today the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) unveiled a public consultation process on the proposed ban.
The authority is inviting interested parties and the public to give their views on the ban, which is due to come into force in 2004.
Advertisements in the national press, inviting submissions, will appear tomorrow.
The public can also contribute to the process via the Authority's website at www.hsa.ieThe closing date for submissions is Friday, May, 23rd.
Last year, the HSA commissioned an independent scientific group to examine the evidence about environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoking. The group's report, published in January this year and among its main findings were:
- Environmental tobacco smoke causes lung cancers and probably other cancers.
- Environmental tobacco smoke causes heart disease.
- Environmental tobacco smoke causes respiratory problems.
HSA chief executive Mr Tom Beegan said: "The Health and Safety Authority has responsibility for limiting the exposure of workers to carcinogens. There is no doubt that ETS is a carcinogen, it causes cancer.
"The scientific evidence regarding the harm of passive smoking is overwhelming. We are all entitled to work in a clean, safe and healthy environment and smoking in the workplace must be banned if that goal is to be achieved," he said.