Enforce smoking ban

IT is more than two-and-a-half years since a ban was introduced on smoking in cars where children are present.

The penalties range from €100 up to €1,000. Yet, as the Irish Daily Mail reveals today, not one motorist has been fined since the legislation was introduced in 2016. This situation is in contrast to that in Britain, where there have been court appearances, convictions and fines since laws came into effect in October 2015. And similar bans have been enforced in some American states for over a decade now.

According to Garda sources, officers are ‘aware’ of the law. From what they say, though, it seems that ‘there is not a major push to detect it, with drink and dangerous driving a far higher priority’.

Nobody, least of all this newspaper, disputes that resources are a major issue for An Garda Síochána. But the buck in this particular instance stops with our elected leaders. Is there any point in legislating for something if the political will doesn’t exist to make sure that it is implemented?

There is ample scientific evidence to show passive smoking is a threat to everyone. For that reason, smoking in pubs and workplaces was banned during Micheál Martin’s tenure as health minister.

Children are the most vulnerable in society, but it seems clear the Government is only paying lip service to genuine concerns about their wellbeing in this regard.

The bottom line is that letting a parent away with rolling down the car window as they puff away simply isn’t good enough. The law is there – and it must be enforced without any further delay.