First 100 Days - of Clean Air

Date: 07 July 2004

ASH Ireland today welcomed the first 100 days of health and safety legislation, which guarantees all employees smokefree air in the workplace. This groundbreaking legislation has been a resounding success, despite a number of high profile setbacks – and for all those people who were affected by passive smoke over the years the legislation must seem like a ‘breath of fresh air’.

Some evidence has emerged of people and publicans who ignore the legislation and ASH Ireland would want the relevant authorities to take appropriate action in such instances. The much-publicised publican in Galway is one example. This is health and safety legislation, and we are dealing with a risk comparable to asbestos inhalation – so it is simply not acceptable to ignore this legislation or encourage people to ignore it.

Some high profile VIPs have recently publicly contravened the legislation – some have apologised other have decided to leave the country – the latter perhaps a little over the top!

Michael O’Shea, Board member of ASH Ireland and Chief Executive of the Irish Heart Foundation said today, “The success of this legislation is well beyond our expectations. Research shows that 97% of pubs are complying with the legislation – and Irish Society seems to have adjusted to the change very quickly. This legislation will save lives in that it removes a class one carcinogen from the workplace. It is not surprising to see that other EU countries are now set to follow the Irish lead on this. The medical profession in the UK is applying pressure for similar legislation and sooner or later all EU countries will have smokefree workplaces. In time the Irish Government and in particular Minister Martin will be seen as innovative, courageous and pro-health by all sectors of Irish society and elsewhere.”

ASH Ireland finds it interesting that some vintners groups have use the ‘clean air’ pubs as a marketing slogan while other individual hospitality industry individuals are complaining about a drop in sales. For those vintners who blame the health legislation for all their ills – they should examine research published yesterday, which showed a significant trend in a drop in sales figures prior to the legislation.

And now that we top all EU tables in relation to alcohol consumption and related difficulties – surely a drop in alcohol sales should be welcomed – irrespective of the contributory factors.