Madam, - I do not support and would not vote for this Government, but I must say I admire the determination of the Minister for Health with regard to the planned ban on smoking in the workplace.
As a former trade union health and safety officer I find the reactionary attitude of the drinks industry very familiar. We had a similar reaction from employers with regard to the hazards for workers from chemicals and other substances - in particular asbestos, without which, we were told, industry would grind to a halt.
Publicans would do well to reflect on what happened to the asbestos industry. As the Minister has indicated, tobacco, like asbestos, is a cancer-causing agent. Sooner or later - and it ought to be sooner - a union will sue an employer for damaging the workers' health.
One must hope the Government will impose sanctions to back up its legislation. A heavy fine plus loss of licence would concentrate minds. Publicans might also reflect on the savings they will make though the reduction of damage to decor by tobacco smoke, not to mention the filth to be cleaned up after each session. - Yours, etc.,
JAMES MORAN,
Knockanure,
Bunclody,
Co Wexford.
Madam, - While most people accept the health risks of tobacco smoking, I still doubt if Des MacHale's support of Micheál Martin's Bill is at all convincing (October 4th). Since he invites us, I wish to address some of the points in his letter.
To say that smoking is the single greatest cause of premature death in the world today is, globally speaking, to ignore large-scale premature death due to poverty, AIDS, famine and war in third-world countries.
I would also hotly dispute that tobacco smoking is the most intense form of pollution when we consider, for example, carbon monoxide from gas-guzzling cars in the US and air pollution from chemical factories in China, of which I have first-hand experience. Like many other issues in our fevered island, smoking is being raised to the level of fetishism.
As an opponent of the Bill I think the best way to reduce smoking in the workplace and elsewhere is the force of public opinion - the greatest of all deterrents. Unless someone is convinced of the damage to his own health and to those around him, this legislation will be as ineffective as other ill-thought out measures in the past.
Mr Martin's Bill is a choice bit of ritual, pretending to bridge the gap between precept and practice, but really a diversion from more pressing problems for the Government, especially in the area of health. It's about as likely to produce a smoke-free environment as Mr MacHale's call on the Minister of the Environment to resign unless he gives up the ould fags. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN F. FALLON,
Boyle,
Co Roscommon.
Madam, - If the proposed compromise on the smoking ban on were to be adopted, how would the many publicans living close to the breadline be able to afford their new ventilation systems? - Yours, etc.,
JASON MULLINS,
Dublin 8.
Madam, - If we are to have good government, it is necessary from time to time that vested interests are faced down. I therefore believe that Micheál Martin is to be congratulated.
Good on you, Minister. - Yours, etc.,
TOM SHEEDY,
Seapark,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.