Opposition politicians and trade unionists expressed strong support for banning smoking in pubs and restaurants yesterday in the wake of the call by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, for the proposal to be watered down.
Labour's health spokeswoman, Ms Liz McManus, urged the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, "to hold the line on his plan to ban smoking in all restaurants or pubs from January next".
Mr Martin has proposed a ban on smoking in all workplaces from January 1st. Mr Cullen suggested this week that this could be phased in and that smoking areas with "state-of-the-art" ventilation systems could be provided in pubs and restaurants.
Ms McManus said that Labour supported Mr Martin's proposal "but there must now be serious doubt about the Government's plans, given that the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, has become the second senior Cabinet member within a few weeks to publicly criticise the proposal.Martin Cullen and Noel Davern have the right to smoke as much as they want, but they do not have the right to do so in a way that will put others at risk," she added.
The Green Party said the Government was being incoherent on the issue and called on the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to show leadership.
Sinn Féin's employment spokesman, Mr Arthur Morgan, said his party wholeheartedly supported a ban.
The Mandate trade union said the "so-called compromises" being suggested "are simply a recipe for continued exposure for workers to the proven adverse health effects of environmental tobacco smoke".
The union's divisional organiser for the licensed trade, Ms Mandy Kane, said yesterday that her union "fully supports the Government's proposed ban. There can be no compromise on the health and safety of workers."
She said she was "amazed at the Minister for the Environment's opposition to the proposed ban given the fact that his own Department, in its mission statement, has responsibility for promoting sustainable development and improving the quality of life in the country."
She rejected proposals for smoking areas in pubs with powerful extraction systems. "It is not possible to hermetically seal one part of a pub, restaurant or hotel for smokers only and to prevent smoke coming out and affecting other customers or staff ... A regime involving the compromises being suggested by Mr Cullen and others would be more difficult to enforce than a total ban," she said.
Where Fianna Fail TDs stand
TDs believed to be supporting Mr Martin's position are: Mr Joe Walsh, Mr Sean Fleming, Ms Maire Hoctor, Mr Jimmy Devins, Mr Dermot Fitzpatrick, Ms Cecelia Keaveney, Mr Pat Carey, Mr Batt O'Keeffe, Mr John Dennehy, Mr Sean Ardagh, Mr Noel Ahern, Mr Éamon Ó Cuív, Mr Ned O'Keeffe, Mr Denis O'Donovan, Mr Eoin Ryan.
Deputies believed to be seeking some compromise are: Mr Noel O'Flynn, Mr Noel Davern, Mr Martin Cullen, Mr G.V. Wright, Mr Martin Brady, Mr John Browne, Mr Joe Calnan, Mr Seamus Kirk, Mr John Ellis, Mr Michael Finneran, Mr Ollie Wilkinson, Mr John McGuinness, Mr Michael Collins, Mr Tony Killeen, Mr Billy Kelleher.
Those who have reserved their positions include: Mr Dick Roche, Mr John O'Donoghue, Mr Willie O'Dea, Mr John Carty, Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher.