Madam, - I am surprised that a liberal paper such as The Irish Times lowered its standards and actually printed a letter by Ronnie O'Toole which suggested that smokers have rights.
After the USA we are probably the most tolerant State in the world but tolerance, as Mr Bush also has shown, should stop short of allowing people to promote views which could lead to the complete undermining of society.
The Government has shown a lot of restraint on this issue and I look forward to a more comprehensive policy by the Government parties during the next general election.
It is perfectly clear that almost all, if not all, of our problems are caused by smokers. We are told that smokers die younger and yet we allow them receive medical attention.
If smokers over 50 were not allowed receive hospital treatment then the waiting lists would disappear overnight and we would have no crisis in the health system. In California, clearly as a result of its no smoking laws, a greater percentage of the population each year feels it unnecessary to take out health insurance. Clearly it makes no sense for the State to give unemployment benefits or pensions to people who will use this money to buy cigarettes. Such benefits, which would lead to improved public finances, should be stopped immediately.
The older generation who like to socialise with friends in pubs for a drink and smoke once or twice a week would be better off staying at home watching television. This way they would live longer and could look forward to even more episodes of Coronation Street. The idea that smoking in pubs should be allowed on the even days of the month for such people is dangerous as it concedes that smokers have rights. It is known that there are teachers who have been seen smoking in pubs. It's beyond belief that the Government allows such people to have contact with the younger generation. All teachers who smoke should be immediately required to resign and the lives of hundreds of thousands would not be at risk. Such a policy could be extended to the whole Civil Service in time.
Finally, we need to protect the ordinary citizen. It can be difficult to identify smokers and without full identification the problem (like TB in the cattle) cannot be solved. The Minister for Justice should set up a register of smokers that concerned citizens can consult at local Garda stations and smokers should be required to wear some sort of identification, perhaps the image of a cigarette sewn on to the arms of their coats.
If all these suggestions were put in place we would be more advanced than the USA and could rightfully claim to be the most advanced liberal and tolerant society in the world today. George Bush would be speechless with admiration. - Yours, etc.,
SEÁN DINEEN, Lakelands Close, Kilmacud, Co Dublin.
Madam - I read with interest Jane Curtin's letter (July 30th), who for the record is no relation. Fortunately for Ms Curtin, she is in fully paid employment and unlike myself and thousands of other owners of small family-run pubs, is not dependent on the public - smokers and non-smokers alike - to make a living.
Her support for Mr Martin's proposed legislation and his intent on driving it through without debate is easy to do when it does not directly impact on her pay packet.
As a mere publican in the trenches of small business I do not enjoy the same "aerial view" but it does not take a genius to work out that an all-out ban on smoking in pubs will have only one effect on my business - lost trade and lost revenue.
Smokers who enjoy a drink and a cigarette, which I might add are still bought legally, will stop frequenting my pub.
As for those non-smokers who do not like inhaling passive smoke - they are fully within their rights to walk past my door and frequent a non-smoking pub should any exist.
The only certain outcome of this legislation will be the demise of the small, family-run pub. - Yours etc.,
JENNIFER CURTIN, Laurel Walk, Bandon, Co Cork.
Madam, - The debate about the proposed smoking ban in all workplaces continues and I have noted with interest attempts to shift this debate from health to arguments around economics and job losses. The recently formed "Hospitality Alliance" is mainly responsible for this attempted change of focus.
In all that I have read to date about the predicted economic gloom I see no facts, no research - just speculation and conjecture - and, of course, scaremongering.
This is a health issue. We do not have the right to knowingly kill other people or seriously damage their health. Passive smoke kills and harms people. This is the main issue for debate - all other issues are out of perspective and insignificant.
Yours etc.,
MICHAEL O'SHEA, Chief Executive, Irish Heart Foundation, Clyde Road, Dublin 4.