The smoking ban has been signed into law. There's no stopping it. It's part of our future. Still, there's a very loud voice of protest saying "it's over the top", "unenforceable" and "against choice".
In fact, it's none of these things. The real issues are about addiction, fighting for one's self, the future of Irish people and our physical and mental health.
We have to let go of the selfish, visionless commitment to being able to kill ourselves slowly. It takes courage to stand up against smoking in this country, and this is the time.
Smokers focused on dismissing the argument of smoking's ill-effects on one's physical health often miss the equally-important argument about smoking's ill-effects on one's integrity and autonomy as a person.
Smoking is not a choice - at least not an intelligent choice. People start smoking to "fit in", be "one of the crowd" or "escape" their struggles. People smoke to avoid facing feelings of isolation, rejection, hopelessness and anger.
It is not an action arising from intelligent choice, but a reaction that reveals a lack of courage and social support.
Whether you believe the research that smoking increases your risk of serious illnesses, suppresses your immune system, tightens your arteries and kills you earlier, it can't be ignored that smoking makes you numb, rigid, defensive and emotionally disabled.
Smoking enhances habits of powerlessness. It discourages people from taking charge. It is a socially-acceptable addiction, thus making it socially acceptable to retreat from emotional responsibility. As long as society accommodates smoking, our ability to imagine our future will be limited.
Smokers are not to be blamed for their addiction. No addict is. At the same time, it would be gutless to support smoking. There is a difference between standing with someone through their struggle and colluding with illogical arguments about the consequences of smoking, insisting that it is "only social".
This line of thinking shows off, rather than conceals, the overall sense of powerlessness that envelops this addiction. There are smokers whom I love, and that love insists that I hold out the possibility of empowerment, responsibility and intelligent choice.
A similar ban is in place in Canada. As a young person, I saw people going out in weather of -35C to smoke.
I am the product of a generation that understands the effects of this addiction and can envision a future free of it. As long as smoking is supported publicly, I have no choice. If you light up, I have to smoke.
Why is it so impossible to ask someone in Ireland not to smoke? Smokers rule the day - not with their good thinking but through our fear of their aggression. Our culture here is one of collusion. People are terrified of sticking their necks out and speaking up. We are afraid of violent responses, and yet in a way that's all we know.
In Ireland I get to notice every day how history affects behaviour. Irish history gives us a lack of trust, support, belief in one's self or encouragement, and has us keep each other down. We see very little leadership out of this. All the same, there is some.
Not being born in Ireland or having white skin, there's little I'm allowed say here about the Irish people's struggles and the future for the country. But Irish people are not the only ones affected by the legacy of their history. I have learned to be afraid of speaking out, rising above and believing in myself. Still, I learned early on that I have little to lose when I disobey.
In my time here, I've noticed that there are others here like me - willing to speak out and believing that we can have something better for ourselves and the generation watching.
While our current culture keeps us afraid, this leadership must be heard and supported at every corner.
We need to build resources for those who yet feel powerless. Colluding with addictions is not helping. Reminding you smokers that you need not be dependent, that you can engage in intelligent choice, and that there might be support for you from your fellow Irish men and women is much more important than accommodating a destructive addiction.
And so, a final word for the protesters: I am not surprised that the vintners are interested in undermining this ban. They profit whenever we are kept numb, habitual, and giving in to peer pressure. As the dealers of our legal drugs, why would they lead the way?
Still, I believe some vintners aren't against the ban. They are just typically silent. Perhaps one day we'll have enough vision to move the focal point of our Irish culture out of the pubs. It's not drink that makes you Irish, and it's not a smoking ban that's going to ruin this country.
This is a Bill for people, not against them. It is a brave move. It's the right move. While it won't be easy, it will bring each one of us forward.
Shalini Sinha is a lecturer, consultant and independent producer