Publicans in Galway have voted to support a legal challenge to the workplace smoking ban being taken by the owners of the pub in the city.
Following a meeting of the Galway branch of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) today, more than 50 delegates voted unanimously to support the legal case by the owners of Fibber Magees, Mr Ronan Lawless and Mr Ciaran Levanzin.
Speaking on Sky Newsafter the meeting Mr Lawless confirmed that he was planning a constitutional challenge. He said he was "not pro-smoking" and did not challenge the data on the effects of smoking on health. Mr Lawless said he was taking his action because he was "pro-choice".
The Galway VFI is to seek financial support from the national VFI leadership for the constitutional challenge which the branch says could end up in the Supreme Court or eventually in Europe.
Mr Lawless has closed his pub as a result of the enforcement of the ban last week. He had briefly broken the smoking ban before being threatened with of a High Court injunction.