Bar staff unions lobby FF TDs to support ban

A lobbying campaign by unions representing bar staff has resulted in a significant number of Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators publicly supporting the Minister for Health's plan to ban smoking in the workplace.

In response to a call by SIPTU, Mandate and Impact for Oireachtas members to support the ban, a total of 11 Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators have written to the unions to voice their full support for the proposed measures.

The unions, which represent bar workers, say the letters represent the depth of support in Government and Opposition for the planned ban.

The Fianna Fáil TDs who responded positively to the unions included the Government Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin; Minister of State, Mr Brian Lenihan; and deputies such as Mr John Dennehy, Mr Brendan Smith, Mr Tony Dempsey, Mr Jim Glennon and Ms Máire Hoctor.

A number of Senators have also voiced support for Mr Martin following the lobbying campaign. The leader of the Senate, Ms Mary O'Rourke, and Senators Mr Timmy Dooley, Mrs Mary White and Mr Marc MacSharry responded positively to the unions.

In her letter, Ms Mary Hanafin said she "fully supported her colleague, Micheál Martin". "I agree that this proposal will have a huge impact on the health of people, especially passive smokers, and in time we will see the benefits, especially a fall in the level of deaths from smoke-related illnesses," she wrote.

The Progressive Democrats' Ms Liz O'Donnell and Ms Fiona O'Malley also expressed their support for the ban.

All the health spokespersons for the major Opposition parties also voiced their support for Mr Martin's plans. Other Opposition deputies who expressed their support for the ban were Mr Michael Noonan of Fine Gael; Mr Trevor Sargent of the Greens; Mr Brian O'Shea, Ms Jan O'Sullivan and Senator Kathleen O'Meara of Labour; and Dr Jerry Cowley, Independent.

Ms Mandy Kane, a spokeswoman for Mandate, said compromises proposed by some Fianna Fáil deputies, such as improved ventilation and smoking rooms, were a recipe for continued exposure to the adverse health effects of tobacco smoke.