Sir, – Finian McGrath’s views on smoking legislation have no place in modern Ireland.
The overwhelming evidence from a recent systematic review is that there is no safe level of passive smoke exposure. Reduced exposure improves cardiovascular health outcomes for both smokers and non-smokers.
Smokers should receive every support in their attempts to quit, and they retain the right to smoke outdoors and in the privacy of their own homes. To extend this right to include workplaces, however, would be deleterious to the health of others. Ireland has led the way internationally by enacting legislation on banning smoking in all workplaces.
To consider reneging on this legislation would be an injustice to the health of the Irish population. – Yours, etc,
Dr KATE FRAZER,
UCD School of Nursing,
Midwifery
and Health Systems,
Mr JACK McHUGH,
UCD School of Medicine
and Medical Science,
Dublin 4;
Prof CECILY KELLEHER,
UCD College of Health
and Agricultural Sciences,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – Before Minister of State for Health Finian McGrath puts another cigarette in his mouth, I suggest he removes his foot first! – Yours, etc,
ROBERT CHESTER,
Knocklyon, Dublin 16.