A new survey shows that 67 percent of the public support the proposed ban on smoking in bars and restaurants.
The ban is due to be brought in on January 1st next year by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, who has stated that it was a move to prevent deaths from passive smoking.
The survey by TNS/MRBI and published by the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) shows that support for the proposal by the Minister has grown over recent months.
A TNS/MRBI poll published in The Irish Times last February showed 59 per cent support for the proposed ban at that time.
Support for the measure is growing among smokers with four out of 10 supporting the ban.
The OTC said half of those opposed to the measure were non-smokers. Three per cent of respondents had no opinion. The research shows that support for the measure is evenly spread between men and women, with 68 per cent support among men and 66 per cent among women.
The ban is also supported by people of all ages, 69 per cent of students support the ban and 76 per cent of people over 55 years.
"There is a clear consensus among the international scientific community that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer. In 2002 the International Agency for Cancer Research declared ETS to be a known human carcinogen and a cause of increased risk of coronary heart disease," the OTC said in a statement yesterday.
On May 21st this year 192 countries adopted a legally binding treaty called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The treaty expressed the unanimous political consensus throughout the world that passive smoking caused diseases. The treaty obliged governments to protect third parties from ETS, the OTC said.
The proposed ban has been opposed by publican's groups, the Vintners' Federation of Ireland and the Licenced Vintners' Association who have questioned the evidence on passive smoking and also say a ban would be unworkable. Representatives of both groups are seeking meetings with the Minister in an attempt to reach a compromise.