There appears to be a growing acceptance by those Fianna Fáil politicians who opposed a ban on smoking in the workplace this week that the Coalition Government is not for turning.
Having been encouraged by the hospitality sector to seek delays and modifications in the proposed regulations - and been firmly rebuffed by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin - they seemed to recognise that further public dissent on the issue would only cause damage to an already shaky Government. If that is so, it is a welcome development. For legislative action to limit the depredations of tobacco companies has now become a worldwide phenomenon.
A further convincing reason why Mr Martin should persevere with his plans to protect the health and safety of workers was provided by the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) at a conference in Dublin yesterday. Research conducted by UCD economist, Dr David Madden, estimated that smoking costs the Irish economy at least €1 million per day in lost productivity and absenteeism arising from tobacco-related illnesses. That is a huge economic handicap. The chairman of OTC, Dr Michael Boland, urged employers to introduce smoking cessation programmes in order to increase competitiveness.
Such programmes would help the majority of smokers who wanted to end their addiction, he said, and would secure medium- to long-term financial benefits for the companies involved. So, apart from the tremendous health benefits staff would enjoy as a result of giving up cigarettes, a company's bottom line would also benefit. By drawing attention to the indirect costs of tobacco consumption, the OTC hopes to inform public debate on the full implications of tobacco use.
In recent years, the public has become aware of the direct health costs, when overcrowded hospitals have to admit patients suffering from tobacco-related illnesses each year and an estimated 7,000 die. Eighteen months ago, research produced by OTC on the lethal effects of indirect or passive smoking caused Mr Martin to revise his original intentions and to propose an outright ban on smoking in the workplace from next January. The hospitality sector was given 12 months notice of the Minister's intention so that employers, businesses and the public could adapt to the changes required. Since then, there has been a lively public debate, with publicans predicting a serious loss of business and seeking modifications.
But the proposal has been broadly welcomed by members of the public and by employees within the industry. The experience in other countries would suggest the fears of publicans will not be realised.