The Minister of State for Labour Affairs has categorically rejected claims by Galway Vintners that he voted against the smoking ban at a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
Frank Fahey also says that he did not give any commitment to support them on this issue.
He was responding to claims by the vintners that he had done a U-turn.
However, he said he had reservations and that the ban would not be successful if it was not implemented effectively.
Earlier, the Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin, warned that vintners who hold pub licences are obliged to obey the law.
He was speaking after threats from vintners in Kerry who says that they will not implement the smoking ban next January.
The move comes as more than a dozen health organisations joined forces to lobby Oireachtas members to give public support to the ban.
