The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, is showing unmistakable signs of a loss of political nerve. Almost three years ago, Mr Martin identified the battle against tobacco as one of the most important public health challenges facing the State. And he spoke of making it a tobacco-free zone.
Now, however, he has opted for compromise and has promised regulations which will ban smoking in pubs and licensed premises only when food is being served. Smoking will, however, be prohibited in most workplaces, in restaurants and on trains.
In terms of public health safety, the compromise is unfortunate. In practical terms, such regulations will be unenforceable. He should think again. This winter, about half of all patients admitted to hospitals will go there because of smoking-related illnesses. And an estimated 7,000 people will die. Tens of thousands of others will be seriously disabled. The cost to the State will be enormous. The suffering experienced by those directly affected, and by their families and friends, cannot be quantified. And yet the nicotine-generated plague that ravages our poorest families and destroys the health of young and old people is to be allowed to continue.
Representatives of the pub trade resisted all proposals to limit smoking on licensed premises under the last - minority - government as "unworkable, unrealistic and unenforceable". And they had their way. Now that Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats enjoy a Dáil majority, Mr Martin is preparing draft regulations which will become the subject of negotiation and debate.
The vintners are strenuously opposed to any change that would limit or ban smoking on their premises. But Mandate, the trade union that represents bar staff, favours a complete ban to protect the health of its members.
A partial ban on tobacco smoking was introduced in restaurants some 14 years ago. It was a weak-kneed initiative and could never be adequately enforced by the authorities. Yet this is the template Mr Martin wishes to use in regulating the use of tobacco on licensed premises.
Gradualism does not work. A partial ban, while food is being served, is a nonsense. It should be all or nothing. All pubs, restaurants and clubs should be on a level playing pitch, with a total tobacco ban in place. It would be easy to understand and simple to enforce. Mr Martin should take his courage in his hands and confront the powerful vested interests involved.