One of the most progressive pieces of legislation in my opinion over the last 15 years was the introduction of the smoking ban in public places. I have witnessed first-hand the major improvements this has made to people with respiratory conditions. I put a motion on the Council agenda calling for a designated area in our parks to be allocated for non-smokers. This was part of an overall campaign organised by the Irish Cancer Society and their ‘Relay for Life’ initiative which I supported.

The Irish Cancer Society’s DLR Relay for Life 24-hour event is held annually in Blackrock Park. This is centred around the lake in the park. In 2015, I brought a motion forward at a Council meeting asking for this area to be made into a smoke-free zone for non-smokers.