Ireland’s Government has approved the drafting of new laws to ban smoking in cars when children are present.
Minister for Health James Reilly was given the go-ahead to draw up amendments to a Seanad Private Members Bill on the issue.
The Bill, introduced by Senator John Crown, advocated a ban on all smoking in cars, but it is understood this will be amended to impose the ban only where children are in the vehicle.
Senator John Crown moved a bill to ban smoking in cars when there is a child or children present with the Minister saying that he would not oppose it.
The proposed legislation is being advocated by Crowne, independent senator Jillian van Turnhout and Fianna Fáil’s Mark Daly.
The Minister did raise some concerns in relation to the drafting of the bill and cited concerns about notifying the European Commission but Van Turnhout said she did not think there were any “major concerns that can’t be worked out”.
“It’s more about drafting and ensuring it’s in order,” she told
