Bar workers have accused the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, of not going far enough with his new proposals to cut down on smoking in pubs.
While the Vintners' Federation of Ireland has signalled it will oppose any moves to impose a blanket ban on smoking in pubs, the bar workers' union, Mandate, has criticised Mr Martin for not going all the way.
"He must treat pubs as workplaces and extend a complete ban on smoking to bars in the interests of the health and safety of bar workers," Mandate said last night.
The Minister confirmed yesterday he has ordered his officials to draft regulations to ban totally smoking in restaurants and in pubs when food is being served. He is to ban smoking in all workplaces and on trains.
As well as a smoking ban during mealtimes, publicans will also have to provide smoke-free zones on their premises. Mr Martin is also looking at banning smoking at bar counters due to the ill-effects of smoking on bar staff.
The chief executive of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), Mr Tadg O'Sullivan, said yesterday that a total ban would be "unworkable" and he looked forward to discussions with the Minister on finding a realistic solution to protecting the health and safety of staff and customers.
Mr O'Sullivan said publicans have invested in enhancing the air quality in their premises for the last 10 years.
The VFI had recently hosted a number of information days to educate members on the clean air solutions available to them through its PubAir initiative.
"Ventilation, extraction and air purification are systems that pubs are beginning to use and are so far deemed successful. We have two types of customers - smokers and non-smokers. Both their needs must be addressed in any future legislation," he added.
However, Mandate deputy general secretary Mr John Douglas said research has shown that 150 bar workers die in Ireland every year from ill-health caused by passive smoking. He said the Minister should give more consideration to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in pubs as a health and safety issue for bar workers.
"The issue of exposure to ETS in bars has been regarded as simply an occupational hazard for bar workers. Unfortunately the Minister's statement in regard to the proposed new regulations, which fail to introduce a complete ban on smoking in licensed premises, only serves to reinforce this view."
Mr Douglas asked why should workers be asked to endanger their lives in return for a weekly wage.
The Minister has said the draft regulations are due to be published before Christmas. He was strongly criticised for not including a blanket ban on smoking in pubs in the Public Health (Tobacco) Bill 2002. He was accused of not doing so to placate the powerful publican lobby.
Mr Martin has had discussions with the vintners on the partial smoking ban in public houses in recent weeks, and has said he will have more talks once the draft regulations are published.