The Government is facing pressure from Fianna Fáil backbenchers to make major concessions on plans to ban smoking in pubs and restaurants from the new year.
Under a motion due to come before the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party next month, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, will be asked to accept a compromise formula that will keep one third of each licensed premises open to smokers.
Claiming the motion already has support from up to 30 Parliamentary Party colleagues, Tipperary South TD Mr Noel Davern said: "We are trying to be reasonable. We are looking for a compromise."
Following a report from the Office of Tobacco Control and the Health and Safety Authority, the Minister decided in January to impose an outright ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants from January 1st, 2004.
During a meeting with representatives from the Licensed Vintners' Association and the Vintners' Federation of Ireland 10 days ago, the Minister and officials refused to back down.
"They are not prepared to give way," complained one of those who attended the meeting, Fianna Fáil Senator Mr Eddie Bohan, who has substantial interests in a number of pubs in the Dublin area.
Opinion against the legislation has been hardening among some Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators in recent weeks, following representations from publicans and complaints from smokers.
Further talks will take place next week amongst Fianna Fáil backbenchers, while a motion could be submitted to the chairman of the FF Parliamentary Party, Mr Séamus Kirk, for the following week's meeting.
Mr Davern said: "I spoke to the Minister about this three times. He is fanatically anti-smoking. The fact that I am a smoker myself has nothing to do with it. How do you stop two old fellows smoking if they come in for a game of cards?
"This is too much of a cultural change at one go. We are suggesting that pubs should have to meet legal standards on ventilation. Ventilation does work . The problem is when people don't clean the extractors."
Senator Bohan said: "Publicans will find this too difficult to control. And it will damage our tourism industry. Nobody else anywhere has tried to go this far, not even in California, or New York."
Both Mr Davern and Mr Bohan predicted that efforts by publicans to enforce the ban could lead to disturbance. "If you have a crowd of young fellows in the corner, would you tell them to stop?" asked Mr Davern.
However, the MRBI opinion poll in January found that 59 per cent of the public agree with the Minister's plans, including 62 per cent of all women surveyed - though opinion among the young divides evenly.
The decision, according to a number of sources, has provoked some debate within the Cabinet, where at least one minister has warned that Mr Martin's ban will be unenforceable.
Smoking in all workplaces will be banned from January 1st under the proposals. Employers will face fines of up to €2,000 if they fail to enforce the ban.
