Cigarette machine group 'faces darkest day'

REACTION:The Minister for Health Mr Martin said the smoking ban was a "positive and progressive health and safety measure" but representatives of the pub and hospitality industry are unhappy at the move.

The Irish Cigarette Machine Operators Association (ICMOA) said its 450 members "face their darkest day" following the announcement. The legislation does not specifically ban the siting of cigarette machines in pubs and restaurants.

ICMOA spokesman Mr Gerry Lawlor said: "All of our members are small business people and this ban, announced today, will have a devastating effect on our lives.

"We have repeatedly called for a meeting with the Minister and his Office of Tobacco Control and both have repeatedly ignored our requests."

A spokeswoman for the Vintners Association of Ireland (VFI) said the minister needed to clarify how the ban was to be enforced.

"Publicans are not law enforcers nor can they be made responsible for someone else's crime," she said.

"How will he ensure that if people persist in smoking without the publican's permission that it is the perpetrator of the crime, not the publican, that is fined?"

However, Mr John McCormack, chief executive Irish Cancer Society, said the ban was "a visionary, pioneering initiative that will benefit countless generations of Irish citizens."

"We believe that people living in Ireland accept the health arguments in relation to the substantial risk between second hand smoke and the development of lung cancer and heart disease. All we are asking now is for people to have the courage to support the ban".

Ireland's largest public sector trade union IMPACT welcomed the ban. The union represents thousands of workers in the pub and hotel industry.

IMPACT spokesperson Mr Bernard Harbor said: "We will be doing everything we can to ensure that the legislation is successfully implemented and enforced. We want to ensure that frontline enforcement staff are fully supported in what will be a demanding job."

The president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), Dr Joe Barry, said: "Prevention is better than the cure and this initiative is a valuable preventative health measure. The Minister for Health & Children withstood a concerted campaign to undermine this legislation and he is to be congratulated on today's announcement.

"Young people considering taking up smoking will be discouraged and those who currently smoke will hopefully be encouraged to stop," he added.