Smoking ban not to blame for FF losses

OVER the last few days there has been an attempt by some commentators and politicians to blame the smoking ban for the huge losses experienced by Fianna Fáil in the recent elections.

While some smokers may have used this as an opportunity to punish Fianna Fail, it is highly unlikely that the population as a whole did so.

In the first instance, 75% of the population do not smoke, and of the 25% who do some 70% of them wish to quit. Hence, a huge majority of the population would see the ban as benefiting their health status. In addition, all political parties, including Sinn Fein, have advocated strongly for the ban.