Madam, - It is disappointing to note the response by the Department of Health and Children to the call from Ash Ireland to ban smoking in cars carrying children under 16. The Department believes, without any survey data to support its view, that there is not sufficient public support for such an initiative. This raises an interesting question: Since when was majority public support a prerequisite for measures protecting the health of children?
Surely the overwhelming evidence that passive smoke damages children's health is enough to act on. In addition, since 75 per cent of adults and over 90 per cent under-16s don't smoke, who exactly would not support such an initiative? In the absence of support from the Department, perhaps the Ombudsman for Children would use her good offices to defend the rights of children to travel unharmed by passive smoking. - Yours, etc,
Dr FENTON HOWELL,
Faculty of Public
Health Medicine,
Royal College of Physicians
in Ireland,
South Frederick Street,
Dublin 2.
Madam, - In response to Aidan O'Carroll (January 31s), surely holding a cigarette in the car is just as dangerous as holding a mobile phone. As such, perhaps smoking in the car should incur penalty points. - Yours, etc,
RICHARD BANNISTER,
Pembroke Square,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.