Prison Officers Demand Protection From Smoking Inmates

Irish Prison Officers, convinced their health is at risk from inmates smoke in Irish jails are demanding the smoking ban legislation be extended to cover Irish prisons. Prisons are one of the places exempt under the smoking ban in the workplace legislation and prisoners are allowed smoke virtually any where they want while incarcerated.

The Irish Prison officers Association are to seek a judicial review of the legislation surrounding the ban on smoking in the workplace. Currently prisons, psychiatric units and some other facilities such as nursing homes are exempt from the ban. Prison officers claim they are being discriminated against and should have the same protection as other workers throughout Ireland. According to prison officers, the exemption unless rescinded could lead to multi-million compensation claims from both prisoners and prison officers seeking damages for healthcare.

Michael Martin the Minister for Health and Children who introduced the ban had originally stated no exceptions would be allowed in his legislation. However when the legislation was introduced prisons were among a number of facilities and institutions exempted in law from the ban. It is thought the Prison Officers Association wishes to ask the courts to deem these exemptions illegal.