The Department of Health and Children's decision to become a co-sponsor of the Irish Masters Snooker Tournament has been condemned by the Labour Party, which said the money should have been put into the hospital services.
The decision was defended by the Department as a way to promote its antismoking campaign.
Snooker has traditionally been linked with sponsorship by tobacco companies but last year the Minister for Health introduced a ban on all forms of advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products.
"I was always anxious, however, to ensure that our decision to ban would not adversely affect the running of this popular tournament," the Minister, Mr Martin, said yesterday. The sponsorship meant "the tobacco industry's advertising will now be replaced by our healthy, anti-smoking message".
As co-sponsor with City West hotel the Department's Health Promotion Unit and the Office of Tobacco Control will spend £200,000 a year for three years.
Labour health spokeswoman Ms Liz McManus said the move "beggars belief". She added: "It sets an appalling precedent whereby the Minister for Health could be expected to allocate taxpayers' money to make up the shortfall when a tobacco company withdraws sponsorship in future." The money, she said, could have benefited emergency services, or treatment for people with smoking-related diseases.
pomorain@irish-times.ie