Smoking ban and EU role top agenda

THE Government’s proposed smoking ban and Ireland’s EU presidency next year will feature prominently tomorrow as the Cabinet meets for the first time since the Dáil broke for Summer recess.

Although the smoking ban is not officially on the agenda of the meeting, which takes place in Emo, Co Laois, it is likely to feature prominently as debate continues to rage over Health Minister Micheál Martin’s plans to ban workplace smoking from next year.

Describing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s support of the ban as “fairly categoric”, a Government spokesperson said the cabinet meeting would primarily focus on Ireland’s role as president of the EU next year and that no time had been set aside to debate the controversial smoking-ban measure.