The trade union Mandate, which represents thousands of workers in the hospitality industry, has called on all Fianna Fáil TDs to come out publicly to support the Health Minister's proposed ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants.
It is believed up to 15 Fianna Fáil TDs are in support of some kind of compromise on the proposals; a further five have not yet shown their hand on the issue.
Mandate's bar trade divisional organiser, Mandy Kane, said there was absolutely no room for compromise.
Earlier today, Noel Dempsey and Michael Smith declared their support for the full implementation of the ban as planned.
They were commenting after the Minister for the Environment, Martin Cullen, suggested yesterday that the ban should be phased in gradually.
Mr Cullen, who is a smoker, said he would accept whatever decision was finally reached.
The Minister for State at the Department of Health, Ivor Callely, entered the debate today when he announced that the state could save up to €1.8 bn in health bills if the government's ban goes ahead as planned.
The Minister said that it costs €400m a year to treat cancer patients who have been exposed to passive smoking.
