Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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586. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any proposals to extend a ban on smoking outdoors at public or private buildings for the benefit of public health; if there are plans to ban persons from congregating and smoking outside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47991/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The protection of children and the denormalisation of smoking are at the heart of Tobacco Free Ireland, our national tobacco control strategy. Tobacco Free Ireland contains a number of recommendations regarding the development of tobacco free environments in educational, sporting, healthcare and governmental facilities. It also promotes the development of tobacco free environments such as parks, playgrounds and beaches through engagement with local authorities.

Much progress has been made in implementing these recommendations; the HSE operates a tobacco free campus policy; community led campaigns such as ‘Not Around Us’ are working to make public spaces smoke free across several counties including Limerick, Galway, Clare and Wexford and sporting organisations such as Sports Ireland and the GAA are working to ensure sporting facilities are tobacco free. My Department will continue to work with the relevant stakeholders to enhance the development of smoke free environments across all areas of society and we will also continue to review the scientific basis and public health rationale for the introduction of further actions to reduce the prevalence of smoking and protect public health.