Republican News · Thursday 14 August 2003

Cullen's disregard for workers' health and safety

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Employment, Arthur Morgan TD has criticised comments by the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Martin Cullen, expressing opposition to the forthcoming ban on smoking in all workplaces.

Sinn Féin wholeheartedly supports the introduction of this ban.

"Minister Cullen's comments show that he does not seem to understand the reasons for the introduction of the ban on workplace smoking," said Morgan. "Martin Cullen as Minister for the Environment should have a better understanding than many of his cabinet colleagues of the impact of environmental factors on health, in this case the impact of the workplace environment on workers in bars and the hospitality sector.

"The Minister ought to understand that this is about workers' rights and it would be deeply disappointing if the uninformed views of some Fianna Fáil deputies in any way prevented the full implementation of this ban, which is one of the few positive initiatives from the coalition government."