The Department of Health has dismissed the results of a study that suggests employment in the services industry in New York declined by 10 per cent as a result of a smoking ban in pubs and restaurants.
The study, carried out on behalf of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), the Irish Hotels Federation and the Licensed Vintners' Association (LVA), suggests the number of people employed in the bar trade and as waiters in restaurants dropped by between 11 and 17 per cent following the ban.
It also indicated that there was a decline in total service-related employees since the introduction of the smoking ban with two-thirds of the 300 businesses survey attributing their decline to the smoking ban. Only one-third attributed their decline to a poor economy.
Commenting on the findings of the research, the three associations said in a statement: "The findings of this research provide concrete proof of the negative impact that the smoking ban has had on the hospitality sector in New York."
However, a spokesman for the Department of Health said the survey contradicted figures released by the New York Labour Exchange which showed that, after seasonal adjustments, there had been a slight increase in the number of people employed in the sector.
He added that the independence of the research was in question as it was carried out on behalf of the three principal organisations opposed to the ban.