28 Mar 2004

BRING SMOKING BAN NORTH OF THE BORDER – INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

EMBARGO – Midnight Sunday 28 March, 2004.

Northern Ireland’s leading health campaigners and professionals have called for the introduction of a workplace smoking ban in Northern Ireland, and issued an open letter to the media.  Speaking as the Republic of Ireland prepares for the introduction of a workplace smoking ban on March 29th, the Director of the Institute of Public Health, Dr Jane Wilde stated that the IPH had approached Northern Ireland’s leading health campaigners and received their overwhelming support for the introduction of the ban, North of the border.

“The implementation of a workplace smoking ban in the Republic of Ireland is a crucial step in protecting the health of those who work in the hospitality industry and the general public.  With many other organisations we call for the people of Northern Ireland to have the same protection.  All have a right to a smoke-free environment.”

The letter outlines the reasons for the call for a ban.

“The great majority of people in Northern Ireland – more than 70% - are now non-smokers.  Most find cigarette smoke unpleasant and irritating and the majority of smokers and non-smokers alike would prefer public places to be smoke-free.  All have a right to freedom from tobacco smoke pollution.

Most public places are some people’s workplaces, and employers have a duty to protect employees from harm.  Many workplaces are now smoke-free, but in the hospitality industry smoke exposure is still very high and poses a particular risk. 

If all workplaces that currently permit smoking in Northern Ireland became smoke-free lives would be saved and avoidable illness prevented.  Smokers who want to quit smoking will be helped and we will contribute to developing a smoke-free culture in Northern Ireland.  We have the opportunity to lead the way in the United Kingdom.

We congratulate the Irish Minister of Health, Mr Micheál Martin in showing strong leadership for action to improve public health and reduce inequalities by implementing a workplace smoking ban.

We believe that the people of Northern Ireland deserve the same protection and urge Minister Angela Smith to make arrangements for the introduction of a workplace smoking ban without delay.”

In the absence of the return of a locally elected Assembly, the IPH will be lobbying the direct rule Minister Angela Smith to begin the process of preparing for the introduction of a ban.

-Ends-

Date: 29 March 2004

Co signators of the open letter are:

Andrew Dougal
Chief Executive, NI Chest, Heart and Stroke Association

Alun Evans
Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast

Brian Gaffney
Chief Executive, Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland

Anna Gavin
Director, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry

Rod Hay
Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Queens University Belfast

Janet Little
Convenor, Faculty of Public Health

Bill McConnell
Director of Public Health, Western Health and Social Services Board

Gerry McElwee
Secretary, ASH Northern Ireland

Gary McFarlane
Director, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Northern Ireland

Robin McRoberts
Chief Executive, Action Cancer

Heather Monteverde
General Manager, Macmillan Cancer Relief (NI)

Brian G Patterson
Chairman, BMA NI Council

Arlene Spiers
Chief Executive, Ulster Cancer Foundation

David Stewart
Director of Public Health, Eastern Health and Social Services Board

Anne-Marie Telford
Director of Public Health, Southern Health and Social Services Board

Vinod K Tohani
Chairman, BMA NI Committee for Public Health Medicine and Community Health

John Watson
Director of Public Health, Northern Health and Social Services Board

Jane Wilde
Director, Institute of Public Health in Ireland

Notes to Editors

The Institute of Public Health has been set up to identify and develop practical advantages from building greater co-operation for public health between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  We work in four areas; policy advice, information surveillance, research and capacity building and our objective is to tackle inequalities in health and improve the health of the public.

For further information contact

Arlene McKay, Information Officer, Institute of Public Health in Ireland
Tel: +44 (28) 90 648494/ 07734 903944
Email: arlene.mckay@publichealth.ie

People available for further comment include:

Dr Jane Wilde
Director, Institute of Public Health in Ireland
Tel: 028 9064 8494

Dr Fenton Howell
Member of the Institute of Public Health’s Management Board & former chair of Ash Ireland
Tel: +353 9495 40341
Mob: +353 87266 8465

Arlene Spiers
Chief Executive, Ulster Cancer Foundation
Tel: 028 9066 3281 
Mob: 07788 146398

Anona Robertson
Public Affairs Officer, BMA NI
Tel: 028 9026 9672
Mob: 07767 216427

Dr Anna Gavin
Director,
Northern Ireland Cancer Registry
Tel: 02890632573

Gary McFarlane
Director, CIEH N. Ireland
Tel: 028 9024 3884
Fax: 028 9023 3328
Mob: 07711158329

Andrew Dougal
Chief Executive, NI Chest, Heart and Stroke Association
Tel: 028 9032 7040
Switchboard: 028 9032 0184
Mob: 0771 287 1775

Heather Monteverde
General Manager, Macmillan Cancer Relief (NI)
Mob: 07801 307030
Tel: 028 90661166

Dr Anne-Marie Telford
Director of Public Health, Southern Health and Social Services Board
Tel: 028 37 414562