Posted by Nurse on November 10, 1999 at 19:09:58:
I am sre you've all read about it - seriously - I had nothing to do with this......
"A KING-SIZE battle was under way last night as smokers fought to retain their place in the nation's pubs and playing fields.
Publicans described a proposal from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health to ban smoking in pubs as ``unworkable''. They said better `air quality' machines are the best alternative to guard against smoke.
The committee also wants two-thirds of sporting stadia, including Croke Park, to be smoke-free. However, a GAA spokesman said it would be impossible to police 80,000 people and it could create crowd control problems.
Committee chairman Batt O'Keeffe, insisted: ``We must be consistent if we believe smoking is dangerous to health. If sporting organisations are promoting health then they should support our recommendation.'' The comprehensive report on tackling smoking said to kill 6,000 Irish people annually also says trains, planes, restaurants, canteens, cafes and shops where food is sold should be no-smoking areas."
Irish Independent Newspapers.