Finian McGrath will not give up smoking

Finian McGrath has come under fire for his “unhelpful and irresponsible” comments on smoking.

The Irish Cancer Society, the anti-smoking organisation Ash, and opposition parties all hit out at the super junior minister, who has refused to promise to stop smoking despite taking up a role at the Department of Health.

“We are not all superhumans,” he said. “We all have frailties and we have to accept that’s life and that’s part of life.”

The Independent Alliance member also defended his “personal views” that pubs should have designated indoor smoking sections and that tobacco duty should not be increased further.

Patrick Doorley, chairman of Ash Ireland, said the organisation is “deeply concerned” any consideration would be given to changing smoking in the workplace.

“This is one of the most progressive and successful pieces of health legislation introduced in recent years,” said Mr Doorley.

Describing the comments as “unhelpful and irresponsible at a time when we are striving to make Ireland tobacco free by 2025”, the Irish Cancer Society said any roll back of the smoking ban would be a retrograde step.

“We expect Minister McGrath will fully support his Government’s commitments in this regard and will not impede or obstruct public health measures proven to save lives,” the charity said. One in deaths in Ireland last year were as a result of smoking, it added.

Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin said Mr McGrath now needs to “get with it” when it comes to creating a smoke free society.

Mr McGrath admitted he smokes up to 20 cigarettes a day but constantly makes an effort to cut down.

“I can’t say that I will be giving them up because I am now in a new position as a minister at cabinet,” he said.

“What I am saying is beating those people up and kind of bullying them... we need to bring people along with proper public health policies out there to help us with our addiction, and that’s the progressive way forward.

“I try to give them up every single day. What I don’t do is go around talking about it or pontificating about it, but what I do is I make an effort every day, like many, many smokers.”

Addressing previous comments, he told RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke show: “I defend the right of any minister or any citizen to have their own private and personal views.

“I think it’s important that we have that situation and in the past I did say that there were examples in other countries like Germany and Portugal where they had a more lenient regime in relation to smoking.”

Mr Martin responded by saying: “Given the fact that he is in cabinet, he needs to get with it and he needs to get with the view that this is not just about Finian McGrath, it’s about future generations.

“It’s about the young people of this country, it’s about creating a smoke-free society because addiction to nicotine kills.”

Labour senator Kevin Humphreys said: “It is ridiculous of Finian McGrath to claim he is committed to the target of Ireland being tobacco free by 2025, when he is at the same time calling for the smoking ban in public places to be relaxed.”