The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, appears to have left room for manoeuvre on the controversial plan to ban smoking in pubs by January 1st.
While Mr Ahern gave broad support yesterday to the plan to outlaw
smoking in the workplace, he stressed some details had yet to be
finalised.
"There is no compromise on the issue that smoking in the workplace
is something that the Government are going to ban," he said.
However, he added the timing of the introduction of the ban, promised
for January 1st, had yet to be set down in a directive from the Minister for Health, Mr Martin.
“And what the Government have to do is finalise its work on the directive,” he said.
The proposed ban has divided Fianna Fáil, with many TDs and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, expressing opposition and
many others reserving their position.
Mr Ahern yesterday endorsed Mr Martin's stance that the ban was required to protect the health of workers but also acknowledged
that many groups were lobbying the Government.
"He [Mr Martin] has to look at all of those points when he's making
his directive and we have to try to ensure that we can find a directive that is fair and balanced," Mr Ahern said.
When asked whether he was suggesting that the ban may not be
introduced in January, Mr Ahern said: "No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that the directive will have all of those details in it." He
rejected claims by an alliance of publicans and hoteliers that the ban
would result in major job losses.
"It's not just an economic argument, it's a health argument. And
anyway I don't really believe the economic argument that everyone
is going to give up drinking and eating and going into pubs."
The issue will be discussed at a special two-day parliamentary
party meeting in Sligo on September 11th and 12th. No formal motions on the issue will be put to the meeting. However, those opposed are expected to table a motion when the weekly parliamentary party meetings resume later this month. Motions are also expected at the party's ardfheis in October.
Any compromise on the deadline or other aspects of the plan would be seen as a significant setback for Mr Martin, who has ruled out diluting the plan. A spokesman for Mr Martin said he was unaware of any move to change the deadline.
Ministers are expected to discuss the controversy surrounding the ban at their first meeting of the autumn on Wednesday. While the Government decision to go ahead with the ban means Mr Martin can make his directive independently of the Cabinet, he is expected to inform colleagues of his proposals.
Mr Ahern also told reporters he was not inclined to dwell on suggestions that his popularity had diminished.
“The fact of it is, when I’ve been around for 27 years in politics, you understand that there’s ups and downs in it.”
