Political leadership - Ban showed what politics can achieve

SIX years ago today, despite tremendous opposition from one of the world’s most powerful industries, smoking was made illegal in the workplace.

It was a victory for health policy over corporate greed; it put the wellbeing of individuals before the balance sheets of conglomerates. It was a victory for dogged political leadership and effective communication.

Because of then Health Minister Micheál Martin’s world-leading ban tens of thousands of Irish people are healthier, will live longer and do not have to worry about a tobacco-induced illness destroying their lives.

When the ban was introduced publicans, restaurants, the hotel sector and tourism interests all predicted it would bring dire consequences and though things have changed utterly in those sectors since 2004, the smoking ban is seen as a very, very small part of the problem. Other factors are far more significant.

A new intolerance of drink driving, overpricing and, simply, too many bars have changed that business for ever. The hotel industry has been destroyed by tax and investment incentives that ignored market needs. The tourism sector has been damaged by the relative weakness of sterling and the dollar – Europe is, or was, too expensive for most American or British tourists.

However, there is still a very long way to go before society, families and individuals are free from the ravages of tobacco. Tobacco-generated taxes were worth €1.2 billion in 2008 and this figure does not reflect the growing black market trade in cigarettes. Seven thousand people still die every year because they smoke.

Incredibly, almost one in three people – 29% – still smoke so, even though Mr Martin’s ban established a culture that curtailed smoking, it did not remove the curse of tobacco from this society. How could it?

Protecting society’s health was the primary achievement but, and even more importantly at this critical moment, showed what determined, pro-active political leadership can achieve.

It is probably less than fair to compare the introduction of a smoking ban to the great crisis facing Ireland, our economy, continued social stability and equity, renewed emigration and the grim prospects faced by so many people who have lost their jobs or never had one, but what it does show is that conviction and the ability to communicate can change all our lives for the better.

Right now those very qualities, qualities needed to establish the unity of purpose we will have to reach before we can rebuild this shattered economy, are sadly and glaringly absent.

This is reflected in the latest Sunday Business poll which put Fianna Fáil at 24% (-3%) and in a coincidence that may or may not be significant only 29% – the same proportion of the population who still smoke – think that Taoiseach Brian Cowen is capable of leading Ireland out of recession. Two years ago 74% thought “he was a safe pair of hands”.

Mr Cowen’s ultra-conservative and dangerously uninspiring reshuffle was the catalyst for some Fianna Fáil debate that might lead to a leadership challenge. Such speculation is probably premature but it must be a realistic prospect. Unless Mr Cowen changes the style and substance of his premiership, his unhelpful indifference to communication and his stultifying conservatism, he will advance that prospect dramatically. The instability and uncertainty generated by his stolid performances are becoming a real obstacle to rebuilding our economy and our confidence.