The Minister for Health Mr Martin has faced down calls from Fianna Fail colleagues to compromise on his plans to ban smoking in pubs and restaurants from January 1st.
At a two-hour debate of the weekly party parliamentary party meeting 28 TDs and senators who spoke, said the minister should delay or phase in his proposals. Less than 50 TDs attending the meeting.
Among those calling for a compromise were two Ministers of State; Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher and Mr Frank Fahey who urged the Minister for Health to phase in the ban.
Deputy Noel Davern and Senator Eddie Bohan tabled the motion seeking a compromise, possibly delaying the ban's introduction for two to three years.