Ahern casts doubt over smoking ban start

THE January 1 starting date for the blanket smoking ban was cast into doubt yesterday after the Taoiseach said some details still need to be finalised.

While committing himself fully to the workplace smoking ban, Mr Ahern appeared to leave the door open for a delay in its introduction or an adjustment to the Minister for Health Micheál Martin’s proposals.

Admitting he previously had doubts about the dangers posed by passive smoking, Mr Ahern said medical world opinion has proven its threat to health beyond doubt and he was behind the ban.

“There is no compromise on the issue that smoking in the workplace is something that the Government are going to ban. What we have to just do is finalise the directive and that rests with the Minister for Health and Children to bring forward his proposals.

“The date and the other details are part of the directive and that is what we have to finally decide on. But Mr Martin has made his position very clear and he will bring forward the directive which sets out all of the aspects on it,” he said.

Last night, Government officials played down speculation that Mr Ahern was hinting at concessions to the anti-smoking ban lobby.

According to a spokesman for Minister Martin, there are no plans to change the start date but there were ongoing discussions about implementing and enforcing the ban.

“I think the Taoiseach was fairly firm on it and that is the way we see it,” the spokesman said.

Anti-smoking ban groups, who are planning to spend more than €500,000 in their campaigns, will step up their lobbying of Government politicians.

But all groups involved in the campaign have been warned by the State ethics watchdog not to accept donations over €6,350 as they are involved in a political campaign and fall under the same legislation as political parties in elections.

The restriction will affect the Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance (IHIA, which previously boasted of receiving donations of up to €20,000 as it built up a war chest of €250,000 to oppose the ban.

The Standards in Public Offices Commission has already written twice to the IHIA about the need to register with it, without receiving a reply to date. But an IHIA spokesman said it would be abiding by ethics laws and will not accept any donations over the limit.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland said it was not getting donations and its chief executive Tadg O’Sullivan said it did not have a specific budget allocation for their campaign.

The Dublin Licensed Vintners Federation said it was not taking donations but chief executive Donall O’Keeffe said it had budgeted up to €200,000 from its own funds to fight the ban.