ASH Ireland welcomes the commencement of the enactment of the legislation which bans smoking in cars transporting children under 18, announced today. This legislation is a further health initiative, which will help to ensure that our children are protected from the the harmful effects of passive (environmental) tobacco smoke.
Dr Ross Morgan, Chairman of ASH Ireland said today “ASH Ireland Ireland first raised the possibility of introducing a ban on smoking in cars transporting children with the then Minister for Health, Mary Harney. During his first few weeks in office, we again raised the possibility of introducing this legislation with Minister James Reilly and he gave a very positive indication in regard to our proposal. The initiative was then taken up by Senator John Crown and this intervention was hugely important in driving the ASH Ireland proposal to the approval of the legislation and its enactment today”.
There is definitive evidence to show that non-smokers travelling in a car while another person is smoking will be harmed by the toxic chemicals which are released in such a restricted environment.
Researchers in UC San Francisco have found that this secondhand smoke in cars poses a major health risk and that the toxins found are “thought to be the most important among the thousands in tobacco smoke that cause smoking-related disease”.
It is also well established that children are particularly vulnerable to such toxins and that adults who suffer from asthma and other respiratory conditions are affected.
17 December 2015
ENDS
ASH Ireland 