Bookings at hotels lost due to ban

Border areas: Hotels along the border have already lost functions to the North because of the smoking ban, a lobby group in Louth has claimed.

The North Louth Vintners Group said two weddings had been cancelled at the Ballymascanlon Hotel, near Dundalk, while the Carrickdale Hotel - just yards south of the Border - had also been hit.

Chairman Andrew Smith said his members were now resigned to the "ridiculous law" taking effect, but he called on the Minister for Health to introduce a New York-style "get out" clause whereby businesses badly affected can later apply to the courts for an exemption.

"We would hope maybe that the Minister would cop himself on to the extent that if people lost 40 per cent of their trade, they could get the ban lifted." Mr Smith said vintners in Louth were "unfortunately going to have to enforce the law" and would do so to the best of their ability. "But if people get obstreperous, we're not going to physically remove them."

His own pub in Tallanstown did not host major events such as weddings, he added, but its private function room was likely to be quieter after the ban because "people will be inclined now to have the parties at home".

Although it is not a member of his group, Mr Smith said the Nuremore Hotel in neighbouring Co Monaghan was also known to have lost functions. However, a member of staff at the Nuremore yesterday said she was not aware of any loss of business.

As businesses along the Border brace themselves, the Sportsman's Pub in Ravensdale has built an outdoor deck for smokers, and added a perspex roof over the weekend.