The Labour spokeswoman on health, Ms Liz McManus, was sharply critical of the fact that the Government's proposed ban on smoking in restaurants and pubs was not first announced in the Dáil.

Ms McManus said that the measure had been promised in RTÉ and the newspapers, but the only place it had not been heard in any detail was in the national parliament.

"When will this secondary legislation be introduced and will the Minister [Mr Martin\] guarantee that there will be a debate on it? The legislation will have a major impact, so it is important to have a full debate.

"The Minister should not think he can slip the legislation through the House without proper debate just because he has gone public on the issue elsewhere."

The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, who was taking the Order of Business, said the regulations governing smoking in extended areas would be introduced by statutory instrument.

"It is a matter for the whips to decide when a debate can take place on the matter."

Mr Walsh told Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF, Dublin South Central) that legislation will be introduced next year to amend the Employment Equality Act as a protection against the exploitation of immigrant workers.