The Minister of State for labour affairs, Mr Frank Fahey, has been urged to "come clean" on whether or not he continues to support the proposed workplace smoking ban.
Anti-smoking lobby groups have reacted angrily to reports that Mr Fahey, who is due to oversee the enforcement of the ban from next January, joined rebel backbenchers in opposing its introduction at a Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting earlier this week.
Prof Luke Clancy, chairman of Ash Ireland, said if the reports were true, "it would bring the Government into disrepute. As the Minister responsible for enforcing the ban, it's important that he reiterates his support for it.
"What he said, and what his position is, should be defined. The fact that he has not come out since that meeting is extremely worrying."
SIPTU expressed concern at suggestions that Mr Fahey was pushing for a "compromise" on the ban.
The union's safety officer, Mr Sylvester Cronin, said "it seems to me that the Minister is acting contrary to his ministerial obligations if he is prepared to compromise on the health of some workers instead of protecting the health of all workers in the State."
A spokesman for Mr Fahey said he was unavailable for comment yesterday. However, sources confirmed that the Minister had doubts about whether the ban as it presently stood could be enforced effectively.
In reply to Dáil questions this week, he said the economic impact of not introducing a ban on environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was "considerable, given the risks involved and the costs to the health services".
However, "the question of implementation and enforcement of the ban will have to be addressed."
Mr Fahey last January shared the platform with the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, in launching a report on the health effects of ETS and announcing plans for the workplace smoking ban. Last Tuesday, however, he reportedly backed calls for a compromise on the issue with fellow Minister of State, Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher.
Prof Clancy said if Mr Fahey retained his silence, "one can only assume the rumours are true."
Pressure on the Government parties over the proposed ban increased this week with the announcement by publicans in Co Kerry that they will ignore its introduction. Their stance was supported yesterday by Independent TD and publican Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, who said he would rather go to prison than turn customers out from his family's bar in Kilgarvan.
Mr Martin has warned that "the law will be applied to all establishments."
