The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, faces an intense battle with opponents of his proposed ban on smoking in workplaces, including pubs and restaurants, after the Government indicated his proposals had not yet been accepted in their entirety.
While Mr Martin published draft regulations several months ago proposing a total ban from January 1st next, a Government spokesman emphasised yesterday that the wording of these had not been finalised.
As the lobbying campaign against the ban intensified yesterday, the spokesman said that the Taoiseach "is at one with the Minister for Health on the objective of securing a smoke-free environment for employees in the workplace".
However, "the wording of the directive has yet to be decided and will be brought back to Government".
The suggestion that the draft regulations could be changed came after the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, joined those seeking "compromise" on the ban. However, Government sources said there was no indication that the Cabinet would depart significantly from Mr Martin's plan.
The uncertainty will encourage opposition from those against the ban, who claim it will lose customers and cost jobs.
The stage is now set for a major debate within the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party. Its members have been lobbied by the recently formed Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance, which opposes the ban. The parliamentary party is likely to discuss the issue in early September, with a Cabinet decision due in the autumn.
There were indications yesterday from 15 Fianna Fáil TDs that they favoured some compromise. However, 16 said they supported the Minister's position, with the trade union movement saying it had letters of support for the ban from a further five deputies.
Another five - including the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue - reserved their positions, while many were on holidays or not contactable.
While technically Mr Martin is entitled, under recent legislation, to introduce the ban without consulting the Cabinet, he intends to have the matter approved by Government before going ahead.
Mr Cullen yesterday suggested that "small smoking areas" could be provided in pubs and restaurants, and that the ban should be phased in rather than fully implemented in just over three months' time.
However, Mr Martin received strong support yesterday for his stance from the Tánaiste, several Fianna Fáil backbenchers, all the main Opposition parties and the trade union MANDATE.
Mr Martin, who is on holiday, yesterday restated his determination for the total ban to go ahead from January 1st. As recently as last month, he issued a press statement asserting: "From January 2004, smoking will be prohibited in all workplaces, without exception."
His spokeswoman, who was in contact yesterday with Mr Martin, said: "It is going to go ahead as far as the Minister is concerned."
A spokesman for the Tánaiste said Ms Harney was fully behind Mr Martin's position, and looked forward to hearing his detailed proposals at Cabinet.
While Mr Cullen has called for compromise and the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, has echoed the concerns expressed by some publicans, most other ministers are understood to support the ban. Mr Walsh said this week that he supports Mr Martin's position.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen - himself a smoker - could not be contacted yesterday.