Protection of Children's Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Act 2014

What is this act about?

This law makes it illegal to smoke tobacco products in a car when a child is present, aiming to protect children's health from tobacco smoke. It creates an offence for both the smoker and, in most cases, the driver of the vehicle.

Who it applies to: Any person (including a child) who smokes a tobacco product in a mechanically propelled vehicle; The driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle in which someone else smokes a tobacco product in the presence of a child.

Deadlines:

The presence of a child (under 18 years old) in the vehicle during smoking.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Health and pharmaceutical law
Articles: 7
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The act of smoking a tobacco product in a mechanically propelled vehicle.
The presence of a child (under 18 years old) in the vehicle during smoking.
The location where the vehicle is, specifically in a public place.
The powers of the Garda Síochána to enforce this prohibition, including stopping vehicles and demanding identification.

Who does this act apply to?

Any person (including a child) who smokes a tobacco product in a mechanically propelled vehicle.
The driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle in which someone else smokes a tobacco product in the presence of a child.

What are the key points?

It is prohibited to smoke a tobacco product in a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place if a child (under 18) is present.
Both the person smoking and the driver can be found guilty of an offence.
A member of the Garda Síochána can require a driver to stop the vehicle and demand names and addresses from suspected offenders.
Offenders may receive a fixed charge notice, allowing them to pay a prescribed amount to avoid prosecution, with an increased amount if paid later.
An offence under this Act can lead to a class D fine upon summary conviction.

Health and pharmaceutical law

Mental Treatment Act, 1953

Children's Health Act 2018

Local Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1936

Mental Health Act 20266

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022

Agricultural Produce (Meat) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1954

Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010

Health Act 2004

Health and pharmaceutical law

Legal text

Contents (7)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7

Protection of Children's Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Act 2014 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2014 Protection of Children's Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Act 2014 Protection of Children's Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Act 2014 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 40 of 2014 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH (TOBACCO SMOKE IN MECHANICALLY PROPELLED VEHICLES) ACT 2014 CONTENTS Section

Section 1

1.Definitions

Section 2

2.Prohibition on smoking tobacco product in mechanically propelled vehicle in which child is present

Section 3

3.Powers of member of Garda Síochána

Section 4

4.Fixed charge notice

Section 5

5.Regulations

Section 6

6.Penalty

Section 7

7.Short title and commencement Acts Referred to Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 (No. 6) Road Traffic Act 1961 (No. 24) Number 40 of 2014 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH (TOBACCO SMOKE IN MECHANICALLY PROPELLED VEHICLES) ACT 2014 An Act to create an offence of smoking a tobacco product in the presence of a child in a mechanically propelled vehicle; and to provide for related matters. [25 th December, 2014] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows:

Definitions 1. In this Act: “child” means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years; “mechanically propelled vehicle” has the same meaning as it has in the Road Traffic Act 1961 ; “Minister” means the Minister for Health; “public place” has the same meaning as it has in the Road Traffic Act 1961 ; “tobacco product” has the same meaning as it has in the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 .

Prohibition on smoking tobacco product in mechanically propelled vehicle in which child is present 2. (1) The smoking by a person (including a child) of a tobacco product in a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place and in which a child (or another child if the person smoking is a child) is present is prohibited.

(2)A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

(3)Where a person who contravenes subsection (1) is not the driver of the mechanically propelled vehicle concerned, the driver shall also be guilty of an offence.

(4)In proceedings for an offence under this section, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown, that a person who was present in a mechanically propelled vehicle in which the commission of the alleged offence occurred and who appeared to a member of the Garda Síochána, at that time, to be a child, was, at that time, a child.

(5)In proceedings for an offence under this section, it shall be a defence for a person to show that he or she reasonably believed that any person who was present in the mechanically propelled vehicle in which the commission of the alleged offence occurred had attained the age of 18 years.

(6)Without prejudice to subsection (5), in proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) brought against the driver of the mechanically propelled vehicle concerned, it shall be a defence for that person to show that he or she— (a) was, by reason of his or her driving of that vehicle, unable to prevent the commission of the alleged offence under subsection (2) by another person in that vehicle, or (b) made all reasonable efforts to prevent the commission of the alleged offence under subsection (2) by another person in that vehicle.

Powers of member of Garda Síochána 3. (1) A member of the Garda Síochána may, where it appears to him or her that a person in a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place and in which a child, or a person who appears to be a child, is present, is smoking a tobacco product— (a) require the driver to stop the vehicle, and (b) demand of any person in the vehicle whom the member suspects of committing an offence under section 2 , his or her name and address.

(2)A person who— (a) fails to stop a mechanically propelled vehicle in compliance with subsection (1)(a), or (b) on a demand being made of him or her under subsection (1)(b), fails or refuses to give his or her name and address or gives information which is false or misleading, shall be guilty of an offence.

Fixed charge notice 4. (1) Where a member of the Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds for believing that a person is committing or has committed an offence under section 2 , he or she may serve on a person personally or by post at the address at which the person ordinarily resides or, at the time of the alleged offence, gave to the member or another member of the Garda Síochána, a notice (“fixed charge notice”) in the prescribed form stating that— (a) the person is alleged to have committed the offence, (b) the person may, during the period of 28 days beginning on the date specified in the notice, make to a person specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice a payment of the prescribed amount accompanied by the notice, (c) if the person does not make the payment specified in paragraph (b), during the period of 28 days beginning on the expiration of that period, the person may make a payment as specified in the notice of an amount 50 per cent greater than the prescribed amount referred to in paragraph (b), (d) the person is not obliged to make the payment, and (e) a prosecution in respect of the alleged offence will not be instituted during the period specified in the notice and, if the payment specified in the notice is made during that period, no prosecution in respect of the alleged offence will be instituted.

(2)Where notice is served under subsection (1)— (a) the person to whom the notice applies may, during the period specified in the notice, make to a person specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice the payment specified in the notice, at the appropriate time so specified in relation to the payment, accompanied by the notice, (b) the person so specified may receive the payment, issue a receipt for it and retain the money so paid, and any payment so received shall not be recoverable in any circumstances by the person who made it, (c) a prosecution in respect of the alleged offence shall not be instituted during the period specified in the notice, and if the payment so specified is made during the period, no prosecution in respect of the alleged offence shall be instituted.

(3)A prosecution in respect of an offence under section 2 shall not be instituted unless a fixed charge notice in respect of the alleged offence has been served on the person concerned under this section and the person fails to pay the appropriate amount of the fixed charge in accordance with the notice at the appropriate time specified in the notice in relation to the payment.

(4)In a prosecution for an offence under section 2 , the onus of proving that a payment in accordance with a fixed charge notice has been made lies on the defendant.

(5)Income generated by the payment of amounts pursuant to fixed charge notices under this Act shall be disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner determined by the Minister with the agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Regulations 5. (1) The Minister may make regulations prescribing any matter or thing referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed.

(2)Regulations under this section may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the regulations.

(3)Every regulation made by the Minister under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order or regulation is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House sits after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

Penalty 6. A person who is guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a class D fine.

Short title and commencement 7. (1) This Act may be cited as the Protection of Children’s Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Act 2014.

(2)This Act comes into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

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