Sacked Fine Gael justice spokesman Mr John Deasy said today he had no regrets over smoking in the Dáil bar and attacked the workplace smoking ban as extreme.
The Waterford TD now faces a €3,000 fine for defying the new law last week.
Speaking for the first time since he was sacked by party leader Mr Enda Kenny last week, he claimed he would not apologise.
"I broke the law, I'll pay the penalty but as for me apologising or having any regrets for what I did and taking a stance, I don't," he said. "I might have to pay a fine but I think my days on the Fine Gael front bench were numbered anyway. I was frustrated with the whole thing."
Describing the incident last week, he said he had tried to leave the building through a door and asked staff twice if they would open it but they refused.
"For two or three months I have been listening to the Government saying there was going to be leniency, there was going to be understanding, but no one has been given any," he told RTÉ radio.
"I have to say I think the whole thing was ridiculous, it's extreme. In the long-term I think the ban will work and will make the nation healthier but I do believe some accommodation could be made for smokers, for people who want to go in there and have a cigarette and a drink."
He also said he was frustrated there had been no internal discussion or vote within Fine Gael about the party's stance on the ban.