Madam, - Perhaps there is a use for the new camera phones after all.
Would the environmental health inspectors of the Department of Health after March 29th look at a scheme whereby members of the public could photograph offenders against the smoking ban and e-mail this evidence together with the identity of the offender to the inspectors for prosecution?
The scheme could be encouraged by rewarding the informant with 10 per cent of the fine received.
At €3,000 per offence this would be a €300 reward, and the State would generate quite substantial revenues, perhaps enough to employ many more inspectors, or even reduce our taxes.
I might even get a camera phone myself to help stop this scourge of smoking in pubs. And it could be a nice little earner! - Yours, etc.,
DARACH CORCORAN, The Old Rectory, Spencer Street, Castlebar, Co Mayo.