Micheál Martin Groups consider action over ban
The rules were signed into law yesterday by the Minister for Health, Micheál Martin.
The Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance says the law leaves the State open to litigation because it makes exceptions for some workplaces and not others.
The Vintners' Federation described the rules as unnecessary and unenforceable.
The law has also been criticised by Fine Gael, who say that enforcement should be the responsibility of gardaí rather than private members of the public.
Call for clarity on issue
The party's health spokeswoman, Olivia Mitchell, said there was an urgent need for clarity on the issue. The Department of Health has said a National Implementation Committee has been established and that guidance for implementation will be published next month.
The regulations banning smoking in pubs, bars and restaurants, as well as all workplaces, will come into force on 26 January next year.
In a statement last night, Deputy Mitchell said Fine Gael supported the regulations but argued that the effectiveness of the ban would be greatly diminished if enforcement was left to private individuals rather than the gardaí who have responsibility for enforcement of every other law.
Ms Mitchell said that for publicans enforcing the ban would be an additional responsibility to add to their obligations under the licensing laws.
She said it was utterly unique to require anyone other than members of the gardaí to actually physically enforce the law or else risk being guilty of a criminal offence.
The ban has been broadly welcomed by health groups, medical organisations and trade unions. But representatives of vintners and the hospitality industry have opposed it, predicting job losses and a fall in income. Vintners in nine counties described it as unenforceable.
