Publicans seek discussions on smoking ban

Publicans have called for an urgent meeting with Minister for Health Micheal Martin to discuss his plans to ban smoking in pubs from next January.

The Vintners Association of Ireland and the Licensed Vintners Federation have called for a rational debate on the proposed ban, saying their members have invested heavily in air ventilation systems in an effort to protect the health of customers and staff.

Both groups said improved ventilation is a workable and realistic alternative to an all-out ban on smoking.

They accused the Department of Health of scare-mongering about the dangers of passive smoking and said if Mr Martin wants to prevent smoking he should ban tobacco rather than proposing what they claimed were unworkable laws.