Publicans demand hardship waiver for smoking ban

PUBLICANS are to step up their campaign for a change of heart by Health Minister Micheal Martin on the workplace smoking ban with demands that a hardship waiver be included in the legislation.

With the ban due to come into effect four weeks from today, the Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance (IHIA) plans to blitz members of the Oireachtas and councillors with pleas to support their campaign reminding them that their stance will be remembered in the local elections in June.

Alliance chairman, Finbar Murphy, returned from a fact-finding trip to Boston yesterday where, he said, the location of districts where the ban is in place along side districts where there were no restrictions, provided proof of what would happen in border counties here.