Orla O’Driscoll
A FORMER Northside Minister’s call to ban smoking in outdoor areas where food is being served has received backing in the Seanad.
In an interview last week with a national newspaper, Senator James Reilly (FG), who was Health Minister from 2011 to 2014, noted our smoking ban was viewed as really progressive and received recognition internationally.
However, he said one of the unintended consequences has been the prevalence of smokers in the outdoor areas of bars, cafés and restaurants.
Senator Colm Burke (FG), the Seanad spokesperson on health, is backing Senator Reilly’s proposal.
“Basically I am fully in favour of it,” Senator Burke told Northside People.
“A lot of people are concerned now that they will go outside to eat in the fine weather, and they are finding people smoking quite close to them, and they find it inappropriate.
“We have made huge progress in this country in relation to changing our attitudes towards smoking.
“Myself and Senator Reilly have discussed doing a draft bill ourselves on this, and we will be moving forward with this in the next number of weeks.”
However, not everyone is in agreement. John Mallon, spokesman for the smokers' group, Forest Ireland, believes the war on smoking has “going too far”.
“There is no justification for banning smoking outside, even where food is served,” he argued.
"Smoking in the open air poses no risk to third parties and although it may occasionally be annoying for non-smokers this is a matter for the individual establishment not the Government.”
Mr Mallon feels once again smokers are being penalised.
“If this proposal is in response to an unintended consequence of the smoking ban, which forced smokers outside, the obvious solution is to allow comfortable, well-ventilated smoking rooms, indoors,” he said.
"There has been no public debate about this issue and to the best of our knowledge, no consultation with the hospitality industry.
"A large number of pubs closed following the smoking ban in 2004. This proposal could have a similar impact on cafes and restaurants because many more smokers could decide to stay at home."
Irene Jones, from Coolock, is mum to a new baby. “As a smoker, and a new mammy, (I didn’t smoke while pregnant), I think it is courteous if you are smoking outside and there are babies or young child, to just step away from them,” Ms Jones told Northside People.
“And be mindful. I don’t smoke around my baby and I don’t expect others to do it.” In 2004, Ireland was the first country in the world to impose a total ban on smoking in the workplace, and while initially smokers cried foul, facilities for smokers quickly became the norm, with businesses across the country using inventive ideas to keep smokers.