The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), which represents the interests of over 1,000 hotels and guesthouses in Ireland, has called on the Minister for Health & Children, Michael Martin TD, to clarify issues surrounding the enforcement of a total ban on smoking in the workplace.

Mr Jim Murphy, President of the IHF, said that such a move could only be welcomed in terms of protecting the welfare and health of all employees but that due consultation with the hotel industry on the enforcement of this ban would be required to ensure that the onus for enforcement would not rest solely with hoteliers:

"The Minister has to be applauded by indicating his intention to ban smoking completely from all workplaces by 1 January 2004. However, the Minister appears to be very vague in terms of how this ban will be enforced and it would be unreasonable to expect that enforcement would rest solely with the hotelier."

"The issue of handling customers who refuse to abide by the total ban is one that has to dealt with sensitively and any legislation proposed by the Minister needs to reflect and safeguard the rights of hotel and guesthouse owners".

Mr Murphy concluded that the IHF would now be seeking a meeting with the Minister to seek clarification on the consultation process in advance of legislation being prepared and a complete ban being introduced.

For further information contact:
Brian Harmon / Niamh Boylan,Weber Shandwick | FCC
Tel: 01 6760168 or 086 2643100 / 086 3809191
Email: bharmon@webershandwick.com / nboylan@webershandwick.com