[Intl-tobacco] EU will not copy Ireland's tough ban on smoking

[Robert Weissman]

EU will not copy Ireland's tough ban on smoking
Irish Independent
 January 13, 2004

 Conor Sweeney in Brussels

 Ireland=92s tough no smoking rules will not be copied across the EU, confi=
rmed
 the Commissioner responsible for bringing forward new proposals. Although
 the European Commission is considering a workplace ban, it will not includ=
e
 an outright end to smoking in bars, restaurants and clubs, said Social
 Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopolou yesterday.

 This suggests that the EU may not follow Ireland's lead in imposing a
 complete end to smoking in work environments, which Health Minister Michea=
l
 Martin has been anticipating. The Greek Commissioner believes that while
 there is a broad consensus among member states on introducing a general
 workplace ban to protect the health of workers, the "particularities"
of the
 leisure sector must be treated differently.

 When pressed, the Commissioner accepted that these were areas where worker=
s
 are exposed to smoke, but said that she hoped that specific non-smoking
 areas could instead provide a solution, or some form of transitional
 arrangements for countries where there was cultural resistance to a total
 ban. "I agree with the comments by David Byrne, but at the moment we do no=
t
 have concrete details," she said.

 "But there is the question of bars, restaurants and clubs and this has
to do
 with the particularities of each member state," she said. "And here we mus=
t
 be very cautious, of course." The introduction of any proposal was still
 some time off and would not be announced in the Irish Presidency, she said=
.
 Ms Diamantopolou confirmed that her officials were examining the possible
 scope of any directive, but said that they had not even been released for
 consultation within the Commission's internal structures yet.

 The pro-smoking lobby in Ireland has repeatedly claimed that since the
 Commission is considering legislation in this field, that should
 automatically result in a freeze on the looming Irish domestic ban.
 However, the Commission has rejected that interpretation and insists that
 the plans are not sufficiently advanced to affect any domestic plans. Even
 if the EU law was introduced, it is highly unlikely it would roll back the
 Irish ban, but would set minimum standards that all countries must meet.

 But the Greek Commissioner drew back from a conflict with the Irish
 Commissioner, David Byrne, who first floated the idea last year, more
 forcefully. He suggested that Europe should follow the Irish Government's
 lead and consider a complete ban. "I didn't know when he made these
 comments, I must be frank, but I was not annoyed, I know his position on
 this," said Ms Diamantopolou.

 The pro-smoking lobby is expected to fiercely resist any European-wide ban=
s,
 while the broad tolerance of smoking in most Mediterranean countries, coul=
d
 still make it difficult for the law to be passed, even by qualified majori=
ty
 voting. Apart from the smoking issue, the Commissioner will be hoping that
 new rights for temporary workers can be agreed during the Irish Presidency
 of the EU. Some countries, particularly Britain, continue to resist the la=
w,
 arguing that it is too generous to short-term employees.