The decision not to reappoint Formula One motor-racing team owner Mr Eddie Jordan as a tourism sporting ambassador for Ireland has been welcomed by a leading anti-smoking lobby.
ASH Ireland had objected strongly last year to "an ambassador for the tobacco industry" being appointed by the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid. They wrote to all Government ministers at the beginning of the summer asking that the appointment not be renewed.
According to Dr Fenton Howell of ASH, Dr McDaid replied saying that he was not continuing with the sporting ambassador scheme.
"We are pleased that they saw fit not to reappoint one of the biggest promoters of tobacco products in this country to young people as an ambassador for Ireland. A number of the Ministers responded to us and said that they would bring the matter to the attention of Dr McDaid," he told The Irish Times.
A spokeswoman for Dr McDaid denied that the Minister had made the decision to discontinue the scheme as a result of the protests. She said all marketing initiatives were automatically reviewed on a regular basis.
At the time of his appointment last year this was seen as a good way of promoting Ireland in sporting terms, she said. However, the focus had now changed and u£2.5 million had been set aside for the next three years in the sports tourism budget. An advisory group had been set up within Bord Failte, she said, to decide which sporting events Ireland should pitch for.
Last year the decision to appoint Mr Jordan was sharply criticised by the secretary-general of the Department of Health, who wrote a strongly worded letter to the secretary-general of Dr McDaid's Department, Ms Margaret Hayes, to protest at the appointment.
At yesterday's Cabinet meeting, the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, received approval for the Public Health Tobacco Bill 2000, which contains tough anti-tobacco provisions. The Bill will now be drafted.