The Vintner's Federation of Ireland has contested a EU study that concludes ventilation would do nothing to clear tobacco smoke from bars and restaurants as "a joke".
The VFI claimed the information was "outdated and obsolete" as it talks about ventilation equipment which changes air once every five hours or at a maximum of once every hour.
The engineering profession in Ireland "considers this a joke", the VFI said.
"No VFI establishment has had equipment that changes air once an hour in the last 20 years" said Mr Tadg O'Sullivan, Chief Executive of the VFI. "This research makes the same mistake as the so called Expert Report which the Minister relied on to introduce this proposed smoking ban. It is totally discredited."
It says the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers has set down recommendations of a minimum of ten to fifteen air changes per hour.
"It appears from this report that the Minister has been conned again," Mr O'Sullivan added.