The Government's decision to ban smoking in pubs and restaurants from the New Year will be copied by other European Union countries, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said.
Firmly ruling out any compromise on the issue, the Minister denied that his Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, was opposed to it.
Speaking in Cork last Friday, Mr Walsh noted that pub and restaurant owners fear significant job losses unless smoking restrictions are phased in.
However, Mr Martin said he had spoken with Mr Walsh yesterday morning. "He said to me that he was simply conveying views that were conveyed to him by a representative group of vintners in Cork.
"He has not come out against it. He was conveying that to me and he has so conveyed. I have made it clear that the prohibition is going ahead," said Mr Martin.
This stance is set to lead to conflict with a significant number of members of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party in September when they are to renew their demand for concessions.
"This is the biggest issue in terms of health in this country. This is what has us at the bottom of the heart disease league table, smoking and other lifestyle factors," said Mr Martin.
He rejected charges that the ban will hurt business. "We have watched what happened in other countries, not just in California, where business has picked up over time.
"I don't share the doomsday scenario that some people are advocating about the reduction in business. Other jurisdictions have a different experience. I think we need to hold our nerve, the industry I mean." Pointedly tying the rest of the Cabinet to his decision, the Minister said he had "alerted the Government a couple of months ago at a Government meeting" to his plans.
Mr Martin can extend the ban to pubs and restaurants under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act and does not need to bring fresh legislation before the Oireachtas.
"The Taoiseach and other Ministers, while obviously accepting that there is a challenge going forward, do see it as a very pro-active move in terms of trying to get rid of one of the greatest killers in this society.
"I just would simply say that I am always amazed at the collective complacency of society in general, not just in this country, but in others as well, towards tobacco.
"It kills people every day. It injures people every day. Yet we still have this sense of complacency. People feel that we can brush it under the carpet and that we can fudge the ethical issues here," he said.
Quoting figures from the Office of Tobacco Control, the Minister said bar and hospitality workers have a 30 per cent greater chance of contracting cancer, or suffering from heart disease, asthma and chest complaints.
The Office of Tobacco Control and the Health and Safety Authority have said the smoking ban must be introduced if bar staff are to be protected.
