Madam, - You have received an inordinate number of letters about the nanny state versus smokers! People may die younger if they choose to smoke; ergo, more regrettable pressure on cancer wards but less pressure on geriatric wards and on the financing of arrangements for old age.
Those of us who greatly dislike the smoke of cigarettes have been well served by non-smoking carriages in trains and by non-smoking areas in restaurants. Pubs can make the same sort of provision without any of this fuss. Probably most of them do, and those that don't will be losing customers.
Are there not more important matters for our legislators to worry about? - Yours, etc.,
DAVID GIBBS, Bellmount, Cullahill, Co Laois.