Phase in smoking ban gradually, urges health board chief

A PUBLICAN who heads a health board denies there is a conflict of interest in calling for the gradual phasing-in of a blanket ban on smoking.

Galway Councillor Val Hanley, newly-appointed chairman of the Western Health Board, said he was in favour of a three-to five-year ‘lead-in’ period to get people used to the idea, rather than the “guillotine effect” proposed.

“The Irish psyche needs to adapt itself to socialising without cigarettes, and I think designating certain weekends as ‘no-smoking’ weekends could be part of a lead-in, rather than banning everyone from smoking from January 1 next.”

Speaking to Medicine Weekly, Mr Hanley said this would assist publicans and smokers alike to accept the new legislation.

However he stressed that he was expressing his personal views and not those of the Western Health Board.

“Everyone who serves on a board in any walk of life has their own life away from it,” said Mr Hanley, a non-smoker.

“I have been a publican for the past 25 years and that is my view.”

But a WHB spokesperson said it will support the ban.

A member of Fianna Fáil, Mr Hanley said he was not afraid to voice his opinion, even though it was in direct conflict with the views held by his party colleague, Health Minister Micheál Martin.

“It will be down to the pressure groups on either side of the argument to determine whether the ban will come into force from January 1.”

Mr Hanley, a former spokesman for the Vintners’ Association, also suggested the banning of smoking at the bar counter where pub employees work; the introduction of proper ventilation systems; and special smoking sections, which would take up approximately 25% of the pub.

Mr Hanley says publicans have spent between 50,000 and 60,000 on ventilation systems as recently as 18 months ago to adhere to stringent environmental health regulations, which required 12 air changes per hour. These would be obsolete if the ban was imposed as planned.

A Department of Health spokesman said the minister was committed to introducing the ban on smoking in public places, regardless of the personal opinions of party members.

“He believes barmen have the same right as office workers to be protected from the harmful effects of passive smoking,” the spokesman said.