Finian McGrath said his comments on an introduction of designated smoking areas were his “personal, private view”.
Ireland’s new Junior Health Minister Finian McGrath has expressed his opinion that there should be designated smoking areas in Irish pubs and restaurants.
Ireland became the first country in the world to introduce a smoking ban in 2004, prompting a number of countries to follow suit.
Speaking to the Sunday Business Post, McGrath, who will attend cabinet meetings as a “super junior” Minster and has ministerial responsibility in the disability sector, said that he felt that the introduction of designated smoking areas could work in Ireland having experienced it for himself in other countries.
“I was in Portugal with the justice committee two years ago and I saw it first-hand,” McGrath said.
“I was in Germany a couple of years ago and – I think it was Frankfurt – they had a similar position and I saw it working.”
McGrath stressed that his comments on designated smoking areas represented his “personal, private view” and that he would not be repeating them in a ministerial capacity.
McGrath, a smoker himself, also expressed his view that smokers deserve a greater degree of sympathy than they are afforded at present.
“Personally I feel smokers can be soft targets,’’ McGrath added.
“I can understand people’s concerns about the health implications, but the reality is a significant number of us smoke.’’
McGrath said that he was fully behind plans to make Ireland tobacco-free by 2025, by which time the government hope that less than five per cent of the population will be smokers.
McGrath’s comments on designated smoking areas come he was the subject of heavy criticism in the Dáíl recently for not paying his water charges bill due to his opposition to Irish Water.
He has since confirmed his intention to pay the bill.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
