The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, is in New York to inspect the effect of the city's ban on smoking in the workplace on bar and restaurant business.
Mr Martin, whose ban on workplace smoking in Ireland is scheduled to be introduced on January 1st next, will meet senior officials to discuss the effect of New York's ban, in place since May.
He had discussions with the NY deputy health commissioner, Dr Mary Bassett, last night and is due to meet Mayor Michael Bloomberg tomorrow.
The Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance has argued that the example of New York, where it claims the ban has lead to a decrease in bar and restaurant business, shows the risk to the economy of Ireland.
It emerged today that ten posts, created by the Government to oversee the implementation of the smoking ban, have yet to be filled due to budget cutbacks.
In November 2001, the Minister said announced that a director of tobacco control would be appointed to each of the ten health boards. However, yesterday the Office for Tobacco Control (OTC) confirmed the posts were unfilled in all health boards. No date on when they will be filled has been given.
Mr Martin is also due to sign the World Health Organization's (WHO) anti-tobacco treaty at the United Nations headquarters this morning.
This treaty calls for a general ban on tobacco advertising and promotion, or less severe conditions in countries such as the United States where a total ban would be unconstitutional.
The WHO estimates that there are one billion smokers in the world and that 10 million will die in 2003 from associated diseases.