Ahern rules out smoking ban compromise

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday appeared to rule out fully any compromise over the Government’s proposed workplace smoking ban.

Despite mounting opposition, Mr Ahern told reporters the ban would still be brought in next January. He said it was clear that passive smoking presented a huge danger to the health of many people. "Can the Government afford to allow a situation where thousands of people die from the two main ways that people die in this country heart disease and cancer?"

Mr Ahern said Health Minister Micheál Martin would be able to finalise details of the regulation once he returned from his visit to New York and had seen how the ban was enforced there.

Asked if there would be a period of transition, he said that Mr Martin had made it clear back in early September that he was prepared to look at a short period, but that this would be no more than a number of days.

Yesterday, opponents to the smoking legislation repeated their call for a compromise.

Fianna Fáil backbencher Noel Davern said he still planned to table a motion against the ban at next Tuesday's Fianna Fáil parliamentary meeting.

Speaking from Zagreb yesterday, Mr Davern, who claims there is growing support for a compromise within the ranks of Fianna Fáil, said pubs should be allowed to section off a small area of their premises for smokers.

"All I'm looking for is the minimum compromise for a period of years before this is brought in fully to give people the chance to adjust," he said.

"Pubs should be allowed to make the smallest, most minimal, section of their counter or bar a smoking area so we're not left standing in the rain with our cigarettes."

But Mr Ahern is backing the ban in its entirety. Asked about the timescale of the ban, Mr Ahern said some people had spoken in terms of requiring a couple of years to install ventilation equipment but that this was not going to happen.

He was speaking after a poll found 52% of people were in favour of the ban down from 67% three months ago.

Mr Davern said of the poll: "It's only now that people are beginning to realise that this is actually going to happen and politicians are telling me that what they're hearing is that a compromise is needed in this area."

Tánaiste Mary Harney also ruled out any compromise yesterday. She said the Cabinet had not yet set a specific date for the implementation of the ban.

"It will, most likely, be sometime in January and there's no rowing back on it," she said. "It's a public health issue. The facts speak for themselves. There will be difficulties, but, in time, people will become accustomed to it.

Mr Davern predicted Mr Martin would feel differently following next week's meeting. "I'm sure the result of the meeting will give the minister reason to think a little more about his plans to introduce this as it stands."