New Year’s Day will see a ban on smoking in cars coming into effect where children are present.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One Minister James Reilly stated: ‘What we are seeking to do is to highlight it, to underscore it with law and to bring about a culture change where people just won’t engage in this activity further because it damages children’s health.”
The penalty for breaking this law carries a penalty of €100, which can increase up to €1000 if the accused continues to smoke in the car with minors or provides false information to law enforcement.
The law does not apply to e-cigarettes.
The change in law has been welcomed by anti-tobacco and children’s rights lobby groups.
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