The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has defended the decision by the Minister for Health Mr Micheál Martin to modify the controversial smoking ban regulations.
Uncertainty about whether the regulations were watertight legally led Mr Martin to move last week to prepare amendments that will exempt hotel bedrooms, prison and Garda cells, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes and hospices from the ban.
Tonight Mr Ahern expressed surprise at the "endless money" available to groups who wished to challenge the regulations.He said it was for this reason that the regulations had to be revisited in such detail.
He said the Government had to proceed very cautiously.
In a clear swipe at the cigarette companies, he said that in 20 years he had never seen a situation where so much money was available from those who wanted to damage people's health.