In a briefing to journalists in Leinster House this evening, the Minister for Health Mícheál Martin confirmed that nursing homes, hospices, pschyiatric hospitals and hotel bedrooms will be exempt from the smoking ban.
Earlier, it was confirmed that the ban will not apply to prisons or to the cells in garda stations.
Discussions with the office of the Attorney General are still underway to establish the definition of 'dwellings places', where the ban will not be enforced.
The Minister also accepted the smoking ban will not now come into force until early in Febuary and he stated that he will know and publicise the exact date for its implementation tomorrow.
No Dáil vote on smoking ban
The Dáil is not to vote on the introduction of the ban, despite attempts by Opposition parties to have a vote at the end of statements on the issue this morning.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte called for a vote, saying it was a great pity given what he called the determination and unity on the Government benches on the issue.
John Gormley of the Green Party said a vote would expose what he called some recalcitrant backbenchers on the Government side.
Caoimghin Ó Caoláin of Sinn Féin said it was absolutely ludicrous to have statements about regulations that have already been signed by the Minister, when the real debate had been going on outside the House for months.
The Government won the vote not to have a vote by 62 to 48. 55 TDs were not present in the Dáil.
The only TD so far to oppose the ban is Independent Finian McGrath. He urged the Minister to accept a compromise proposal of designated smoking areas in hotels and pubs.
Deputy McGrath said there was an element of the nanny state and the health police in the debate and that ministers and their advisers were 'losing the run of themselves'.
