Smoking ban the business for sheltered life advocates

A Cork-based company has spotted a niche in the market by selling smoking shelters to companies in advance of the introduction of the workplace smoking ban in January.

Moderector has received hundreds of inquiries since it began aiming advertisements at employers in recent months.

The advertisements carry a no-smoking sign with the words: "Now that the Government have announced that they are going to ban all smoking in the workplace, isn't it time that you planned ahead?"

Most of the inquiries have come from companies and factories, particularly in the pharmaceutical and information technology sector.

Many of these companies had already voluntarily introduced smoking bans, said Mr John Ryan, Moderector's sales and marketing manager for the Leinster area.

He said many publicans had made inquiries but they were particularly slow to place orders.

"We get quite a few calls from publicans but they are holding back to see if the Minister changes his mind and allows designated smoking areas."

The company has sold about 30 shelters since the advertisements began, "but the potential is there to sell thousands if companies move on it now", said Mr Ryan.

Moderector has specialised in providing shelters and covered walkways since 1974, so when the company heard about plans to ban smoking in the workplace, it spotted an opportunity.

"We started working on this back in January as it is right up our alley", Mr Ryan said. "We are advertising it now, as we hope companies won't put it on the long finger and then come to us in a panic in December."

One of Moderector's most recent jobs was to erect a smoking shelter for a non-smoking McDonald's restaurant in Douglas in Cork.

The shelters, which do not need planning permission, range from €2,800 to about €4,500 for more ornate styles. They have galvanised rust-proof frames with a see-through roof and sides.

The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, would not be objecting to the shelters, a spokeswoman said.