John McCallister MLA, Independent Unionist for South Down, has welcomed the recent approval of regulations which will forbid anyone smoking in a car when children are present in England and Wales and has stated it is high time the change in the law was made in Northern Ireland.
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John McCallister MLA says smoking in cars damages the health of children and wants it banned in Nirthern Ireland.[/caption]
In a challenging statement, Mr McCallister said: “Second hand smoke is a killer and it deeply regrettable that thousands of young children are being denied a healthy start in life by parents and guardians who continue to smoke in their cars.
“I first raised this issue in the Assembly in 2011 and was unanimously supported. A ban has been introduced in England and Wales and Scotland is debating a Bill on the issue – we are unfortunately lagging well behind – nothing has happened in Northern Ireland.
“I have informed the Minister for Health, Jim Wells MLA, of my intention to amend his forthcoming Miscellaneous Health Bill to bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK on this crucial issue and I hope that he will give it his backing.”
Mr McCallister said that the human cost of cancer and other illnesses related to smoking is profound, but the financial cost of treating cancer is also staggering.
He added: “Banning smoking in cars in Northern Ireland would be good for children and good for the Health Service – it is a win-win situation all round”.
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