THE Irish government looks set to extend the smoking ban to include outdoor areas where food is served.
According to the Irish Times, Fine Gael Senators led by former Minister for Health James Reilly, have called on current Minister for Health Simon Harris to change legislation on the issue.
Minister Harris is set to ask the cabinet for approval on the matter on Tuesday.
James Reilly said earlier this year that “while our smoking was a really progressive move and lauded internationally, unfortunately, one of the unintended consequences has been the prevalence of smokers in the outdoor areas of bars, cafes and restaurants.
“This means that nobody can enjoy a meal outdoors on a sunny day in this country, without having to inhale other people’s smoke.
“Anyone spending their hard earned money in a restaurant or café should be entitled to enjoy their meal in a smoke free environment.
“Unfortunately, the prevalence of smoke can ruin the experience for non-smokers. There is no reason why this situation should be forced upon non-smokers and it is time that we moved to protect them.”
