Department dismisses SIPTU hotel smoking claim

A SIPTU claim that staff working in hotel bedrooms will have less protection under new laws banning smoking in the workplaces has been rejected by the Department of Health and hoteliers.

Mr Kieron Connolly, secretary of SIPTU's hotel and catering branch, said under current law staff cleaning hotel bedrooms are entitled to a healthy place of work, but under the new laws they will have to work in a "proven unhealthy workplace".

The smoking ban, which comes into effect on March 29th exempts hotel bedrooms.

Mr Connolly told ireland.com:"We are concerned that the minister didn't consult further with the unions. We should have had a total ban. Our workers should not be treated any less favourably than workers elsewhere.

He said SIPTU supported the broad thrust of the new laws but was seeking a meeting with the Minister for Health to discuss the exemptions for hotel bedrooms.

"We want this exemption removed. We believe that the Minister examined this from a residential viewpoint whereas under Safety and Health Legislation the focus would have been on workplaces." Parts of the hotel that are a "workplace should not have exemptions".

Mr Connolly said SIPTU represents an estimated 500 staff working in hotel bedrooms.

But a spokeswoman for the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said hoteliers - along with all employers will be required to provide a safe, smoke-free working environment.

The exemption applies to hotel bedrooms only and was intended to protect hoteliers and those running B&Bs from prosecution if a guest chose to smoke in their room, she said.

The spokeswoman said the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) was drawing up guidelines for the licenced and restaurant trade and these would be ready within ten days.

Mr John Power, ceo of the Irish Hotels Federation, said a number of protocols were submitted to the OTC concerning smoking in hotel bedrooms.

He said all hotels would designate rooms either smoking or non-smoking and where possible, entire floors would be non-smoking.

Guests would be asked not to smoke for two-hours prior to the room being cleaned. In the event of room service to a guest who is also a smoker the guest will be asked to extinguish their cigarette or accept the room service at the door of their room, said Mr Power.