Dissent within party ranks over smoking ban

UP to 25 members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party are to will are to oppose Health Minister Micheál Martin’s blanket ban on smoking in pubs from next year.

In the latest revolt to hit the main coalition party, South Tipperary TD and former junior minister Noel Davern is to table a motion to have the proposed legislation watered down.

Deputy Davern, who has been a smoker for years, said as many as two dozen members of the parliamentary party support his motion.

However, he accepts that he is facing an uphill battle to convince the Minister to reconsider his proposal.

“I have already spoken to Micheál Martin on several occasions on this particular issue, but I am of the very distinct impression that he is not for turning on it,” he said.

“However, I believe the Minister’s proposal is too big a culture shock, and personally I do not give credence to surveys which show that up to 70% of people support a total smoking ban in pubs.”

He said the blanket smoking ban will hit pubs and publicans very hard, and could bring about a prohibition-type situation, with people continuing to smoke illegally in pubs.

“I accept that smoking is not good for you, but it is a habit and one of the hardest habits to kick,” he said.

As an alternative, Mr Davern proposes that about a one third in area of each pub should be designated a smoking zonearea. He believes that smokers would respect this and remain in that area “I am confident my motion will have the support of twenty-four or more of my colleagues,” he said. Although he accepts however that this number will still be well short of what would be required to win the vote, Deputy Davern is hoping it may at least be enough to force a compromise on the part of the Health Minister.