McEniff backs smoking challenge

A Fianna Fáil councillor has thrown his support behind a planned constitutional challenge to the smoking ban.

A Fianna Fáil councillor has thrown his support behind a planned constitutional challenge to the smoking ban.

Cllr Seán McEniff from Bundoran, Co Donegal, who is also chairman of North West Tourism, has claimed that opposition to the smoking ban was one of the key reasons for Fianna Fáil's disappointing election performance.

"I was out there on the doorsteps and there is no doubt that this was an issue that affected the Fianna Fáil vote," he said.

"The only hope is that this is challenged on a constitutional basis. I think the vintners should take a case and fight it all the way to Europe. It wouldn't cost that much if it was shared across the board," Cllr McEniff said.

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A constitutional case, due to be heard in the coming months, is being taken by a Cork-based hackney-driver, Mr Liam O'Riordan. There is speculation that publicans around the country may help finance the challenge.

The smoking ban has been a controversial issue in Border areas and publicans claim they have been hardest hit with significant numbers travelling to the North instead of drinking locally.

Pubs in Border areas have recorded a decrease in trade of between 10 and 30 per cent, according to a survey conducted by North West Tourism last week.

The group said a telephone survey of hoteliers, vintners and suppliers in the area found that a typical drop in business of between 10 and 15 per cent was being blamed almost exclusively on the smoking ban. However, some pubs had been affected by a drop in trade twice this big.

Mr McEniff, in his capacity as chairman of North West Tourism, said: "We are finding that a lot of the home market is going North and that much of the market from the North is staying at home. There has been very aggressive marketing, with some hotels in the North inviting people to come somewhere they can smoke."

While locally there have been high compliance rates with the ban since it was introduced, Mr McEniff queried how it would be affected by bad weather in winter. He also said he supported the idea of designated smoking areas and that a climbdown on the issue would be a "slap in the face" for the Government.

Cllr McEniff also said that while additional funding for marketing in the Border regions had been secured in recent times, this was largely ineffective compared to well-resourced marketing drives in the North.

"We were equally disadvantaged by the Troubles for 30 years in this region and I believe that has to be seriously addressed. The smoking ban is just adding to our difficulties," he said.