The suggestion by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, that areas in bars and restaurants should be exempt from the proposed smoking ban shows a serious lack of judgement, Ireland's leading anti-smoking campaigner said today.
Dr Fenton Howell, of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said the Minister's comments "appear to based on anecdote and information coming from those in the tobacco lobby".
"He should have the common sense to contact the Department of Health to inform himself properly.
It shows a serious lack of judgement to use media reports as facts when going on the record," Dr Howell told ireland.com.
Mr Cullen yesterday admitted he had argued against the imposition of a total ban on smoking at Cabinet and that he was the only one to do so.
However, there are a number of Government TDs lobbying in the background and yesterday former minister, Mr Noel Davern, also came out against an outright ban.
Mr Cullen's comments were commended by the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) but Dr Howell expressed surprise that the Minister revealed details of Cabinet discussions: "It is certainly a redefinition of confidentiality and collegiality."
Dr Howell also said it was "ironic" that the Minister for the Environment was the only member of the Cabinet to publicly state he was against a ban "which protects people from biggest single indoor pollutant".
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, is behind the plan to ban smoking from all workplaces from January 1st next. But opposition from the hospitality industry and a growing number of Government TDs is gathering momentum.