The Minister for Health's decision to ban smoking in all pubs and restaurants from next year has been publicly supported by the Government Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin, and a Fianna Fáil backbencher.
Despite criticism from some colleagues that Mr Martin is going too far, Ms Hanafin said: "I am 100 per cent in favour of what he is doing. It is a very brave decision that will change the face of Irish pubs forever."
Last week, Tipperary South TD Mr Noel Davern said he believed that up to 30 backbenchers would support a call to keep one-third of all licensed premises open to smokers.
Mr Davern will continue his efforts this week to secure support for a motion to go before the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party next week, although it is not yet clear how many of his colleagues will eventually sign up.
Fianna Fáil Dublin South Central TD Mr Michael Mulcahy said the tough anti-smoking laws are designed to help the 70 per cent of people who are forced to endure smoking by others.
"The Minister for Health should not be deflected from his proposals, which will be welcomed by the vast majority of pub customers and by bar and restaurant staff throughout the country. Opinion polls have shown that almost 90 per cent are in favour of extending bans on environmental tobacco smoke. Even amongst smokers, support for an extension of the law is high," he said.
The World Health Organisation has identified 50 known carcinogens in tobacco smoke. "Those of us who do not smoke are being exposed to this danger every day," said Mr Mulcahy.
"We can no longer continue shrugging our shoulders about such health issues. We have seen how the penalty points have changed driving habits for ever and saved scores of lives," he declared.
The Department of Health insists that the introduction of the smoking ban will not be delayed by its failure to notify the European Commission in time of some restrictions on tobacco marketing and advertising.
In January, the High Court ruled in favour of tobacco companies, which argued the Department had failed to notify Brussels under the EU Transparency Directive. At the time, the Minister said he intended to proceed with the other sections of the Act.
Fourteen of the 53 sections of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act, 2002 dealing with these issues must be brought back through the Oireachtas again, probably by October, sources said last night.
However, the Department last night insisted that TDs and Senators would not have the chance to refight the debate about the smoking ban since all the other sections of the legislation were not opened up by the High Court in its decision.
