Madam, - Banning smoking in pubs and restaurants is, I believe, an infringement of our civil rights, the action of a nanny and killjoy state.
I support the introduction of non-smoking areas and increased ventilation in pubs. As a smoker myself I am not immune to the effects of too smoky an atmosphere.
However, to propose a ban on smoking only indicates how much more Americanised our Government seems to want us to become.Having forced us to accept American war planes refuelling at our airports, the next step seems to be to adopting their social policies.
Smoking is a choice. We all know it's bad for us, but it's not for the Government to try and force us not to smoke. Rights for non-smokers - yes of course; but how about rights for smokers?
Does the Government want to turn our pubs into the sterile environment that is an American pub?
I quote the comedian Eddie Izzard: "Yes, no smoking in American bars, and soon, no drinking and no talking."- Yours, etc.,
Seafield Court,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.