Smoking ban is cruel, says doctor

HEALTH MINISTER Micheál Martin is perfectly correct to attempt to protect non-smokers and people who suffer from certain illnesses such as asthma from the potential harmful effects of smoke. This is perfectly reasonable.

However, I do not think that a blanket ban is reasonable or justified. It stigmatises at least one-quarter to one-third of the population and makes their everyday lives difficult and miserable.

If this is the intention, so that people will give up smoking, I say that cruelty is never justified. And this is cruel.