Pub landlords in row over workplace smoking ban

A row over Government plans to ban all smoking in the workplace intensified today as pub landlords refused to withdraw a petition inviting bar staff to oppose the move.

Ireland’s Licensed Vintners Association insisted it would not give in to demands for a withdrawal from the main bar-workers’ trade union.

Association chief executive Donal O’Keefe today rejected charges that the petition was a form of intimidation, maintaining it was an attempt to gauge workers’ opinions.

The petition outlines LVA’s compromise proposals for the reservation of 50% of pubs for non-smokers, a prohibition on smoking at bar counters and a full review of the system after two years.

Workers are being asked to indicate whether they support or reject the compromise plan by ticking yes or no on the petition document..

Mr O’Keeffe said: “We have done research which suggest jobs will certainly be lost if the ban is put in place – anywhere between three and eight thousand.

“What we’re interested in is getting a sense of the workers’ feelings on this issue. No-one seems to have consulted them yet.”

According to the Mandate trade union and the Congress of Trade Unions, the petition being sent to bar staff “could be seen as harassment and intimidation“.

ICTU vice president Peter McLoone called on the landlords to rethink the petition.

The ban on smoking in pubs, restaurants and other workplaces is set to come into effect in early January – though probably not January 1 to avoid New Year celebrations confusion.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has signalled strong support for the concept, despite reservations on the part of some members of his Fianna Fáil party.

The idea is to ban smoking totally in places of work, although parts of prisons and psychiatric hospitals may be excluded.

Health Minister Micheál Martin, will introduce amendments to the current Public Health (Tobacco) Act next month precisely defining the workplaces where smoking is to be barred.

Mr Martin first plans to study at first hand the position in New York – where he will be to sign the United Nations Convention on Tobacco next month and where a strict no-smoking regime is already in place.