Murphy to be pressed for smoking ban

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy is to be pressed to turn the Republic’s controversial planned workplace smoking ban into an all-Ireland concept.

The idea will be relayed to the UK Secretary of State from a meeting of members of the British and Irish parliaments in Hertfordshire next week.

Seymour Crawford, who represents the borderside Cavan-Monaghan constituency for Fine Gael, wants the Ulster Secretary to say what plans he has to introduce a no smoking law for the hotels, pubs and other workplaces, similar to that being introduced by the Government from the start of the New Year.

He is also seeking details of any discussions that have gone on between the British and Irish governments regarding the possibility of an single Ireland approach to the issue – and what representations Mr Murphy has received regarding the danger that the enforcement of the new law by the Government - in the face of bitter resistance on the part of the country’s licensing trade - could create a fresh “border mentality".

The now 68-strong parliamentary group, founded in 1990 to improve relations between British and Irish politicians, begins its 27th twice-yearly plenary session tomorrow night and meets until Tuesday.

Smoking aside, the meeting will be dominated by on-going developments in the Northern Ireland peace process – including speculation over moves towards naming a date for long-delayed elections for a new Northern Ireland Assembly.

The body's Irish co-Chairman, Brendan Smith, today said the conference was happening “at a crucial time for the North.”

The Inter-Parliamentary Body is made up of 25 British and 25 Irish members, as well as representatives from the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Parliament and the Isle of Man and Channel Islands.