Two taxi drivers who were, separately, spotted by officials from Fermanagh District Council smoking in their cabs have been each handed a £50 fixed penalty notice. If the fine is paid within 14 working days, the penalty is reduced to £30.

A reference to the 'cop' was made at this week's meeting of Fermanagh District Council by way of a minute from its Environmental Health Committee.

Robert Forde, the Council's Director of Environmental Health confirmed that the notices referred to two different taxi firms. "In those particular cases, it would have been the officer out on the ground who saw the drivers smoking in their taxis. The No Smoking legislation is basically the same as for work premises: as far as the Order is concerned, it doesn't matter whether the taxi is static or mobile.

Nor does it matter whether there is a passenger(s) in the taxi or not. In the same way, say, if you have a workshop: it doesn't matter whether there is anyone there or not, if there's someone smoking, it's exactly the same."