The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's cross-community party

 David Ford

McCarthy welcomes Health Minister's 'no smoking on stage' commitment

2.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Jun 2007

Portrait-yellow: MCCARTHY Kieran (photography: Allan Leonard)

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA has backed the commitment from the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to prevent actors from smoking on stage at theatres. Michael McGimpsey gave his commitment after Mr McCarthy raised his concerns on this issue in the Assembly today.

Opposition MLA, Mr McCarthy, said: "Welcome the fact that the Minister has recognised that allowing smoking on stage in theatres would be ridiculous.

"I am pleased that he gave a commitment to remove the clause which would allow actors to smoke onstage, following my speech in the Assembly.

"I am also glad that Minister is listening to the concerns addressed in the Assembly and that he intends to act on them. To enforce the smoking ban effectively and deliver its full health benefits to everyone, we must stick to it. It would be total a kick in the teeth for ban campaigners to let this exemption come into effect."

ENDS

Bookmark this story at: del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg FacebookFacebook redditreddit StumbleUponStumbleUpon
Print this news story.
Previous news story: Alliance Leader backs green governance review (Tue 19th Jun 2007).
Next news story: First ever Belfast meeting of National Advisory Committee on Historic Ships (Tue 19th Jun 2007).

Related News Stories:

Mon 12th May 2008:

Ford welcomes Minister's assurances on bluetongue.

Wed 30th Apr 2008:

McCarthy praises bar staff on smoking ban and says raise legal age for tobacco.

Mon 4th Feb 2008:

McCarthy welcomes health system reforms.

Wed 10th Oct 2007:

McCarthy pushes Health Minister for action on World Mental Health day.

Fri 14th Sep 2007:

McCarthy backs plans for smoking age rise and says better enforcement needed.

Thu 16th Aug 2007:

McCarthy says Health Minister must act on Bamford mental health report.

Wed 8th Aug 2007:

McCarthy slams comments from Poots and calls on McGimpsey to enforce smoking ban on stage.

Mon 14th May 2007:

Health Minister's pathetic excuses bode ill for future of Health Service under current Executive - McCarthy.

Thu 20th Jul 2006:

McCarthy calls for smoking in public buildings to be stubbed out immediately.

Mon 26th Jun 2006:

Minister's plan to end trolley waits must be fully implemented: McCarthy.

Thu 27th Oct 2005:

Minister must not waiver on smoking ban: McCarthy.

Mon 17th Oct 2005:

McCarthy welcomes smoking ban.

Tue 17th May 2005:

Bring in smoking ban now: McCarthy.

Mon 28th Feb 2005:

McCarthy supports stiffer ban on smoking in public places.

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 82b Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BX.
Published and promoted by The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, 88 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.