Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 869: To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the smoking ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22991/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I would like to clarify for the Deputy that, should a future prohibition be introduced, it will not look to restrict the rights of adults to decide what is best for them. Rather, any such prohibition would look to protect the rights of children; that is, persons under the age of majority to whom the State has a particular duty of care and who are otherwise reliant on parents and carers to avoid smoking in order to protect them from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the enclosed space of a car.