The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, insisted today he would press ahead with a controversial workplace smoking ban after seeing the effects of a similar measure in New York.
Mr Martin, due back in Ireland this weekend after a fact-finding trip to the American city, is set to enforce the ban on January 1st.
He faces opposition from the licensed trade and other interests who fear serious loss of business - as well as misgivings on the part of some Fianna Fáil ministerial colleagues and backbenchers.
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The ban will halt smoking on health grounds in all pubs and restaurants and a host of other public areas, although discussions are going on about possible partial exemptions for prisons and other institutions.
He said of the New York experience: "We were shown research showing that there has been no adverse impact on the hospitality industry from smoke bans. Trade went up in some restaurants and other businesses reported improvements.
"New York health officials said they worried too much in advance of the ban, and the world did not collapse after its introduction. They got positive feedback from the people," Mr Martin said.
The Minister dismissed the results of a petition carried out among Dublin bar workers showing 93 per cent support for a compromise alternative to the blanket smoking ban.
"The whole notion of a petition of that kind is very questionable. I would expect that in certain areas, employees would be in a very vulnerable position in terms of signing a petition that would be presented to them by an employer.
"The trade union representing workers in the industry have been unequivocal in terms of their support for this and have urged me to move on this initiative," he said.
"We have to remember this is a health and safety issue. In New York, it is estimated that up to 1,200 people die every year from passive smoking. It's right up there as a major killer."