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Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Cancer charity brands minister's smoking comments "unhelpful and irresponsible"

Finian McGrath said that he personally supports smoking areas in pubs and restaurants.

NEWLY APPOINTED JUNIOR health minister Finian McGrath has come under fire for saying that smoking should be allowed in designated areas in pubs and restaurants.

He made the comments during an interview in yesterday’s Sunday Business Post and stated that it was a “private, personal view”.

The Dublin TD also said that he felt increasing excise duty on cigarettes would play into the hands of cigarette smugglers.

McGrath’s comments rankle with the stated position in the new Programme for Government, which aims to have less than 5% of the country smoking by 2025.

‘A retrograde step’

Responding to McGrath’s comments, the Irish Cancer Society, described them as “unhelpful and irresponsible”.

“The smoking ban and increases in excise duty are effective public health measures that save lives.”

Any roll back of the smoking ban would be a retrograde step.  Second-hand smoke causes cancer.
We expect Minister McGrath will fully support his Government’s commitments in this regard and will not impede or obstruct public health measures proven to save lives.

Ireland was the first country in the world to ban smoking in the workplace back in 2004, and the Irish Cancer Society has claimed that in that time there have been 4,000 less smoking related deaths thanks to the ban.

The charity also said that it was willing to meet with the minister to discuss the issue.

Supporting the programme for government

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke programme yesterday, McGrath stated that the new Programme for Government – including plans to make Ireland tobacco free – has his full support.

He went on to say:

I also defend the right of any minister or any citizen to have their own private and personal view.

Host O’Rourke then put it to McGrath – who is a smoker – that in his new position as a super junior minister with a responsibility disability issues there was an onus on him to kick the habit.

“My responsibility is to do my job to the best of my ability in terms of health, people with cystic fibrosis and services for people with disabilities. These are my focuses. On a private and personal level I will make an effort and that’s my position,” McGrath responded.

Read: Hikes in prices, menthols to be banned and plain packaging – cigarettes took a big hit this week

Also: School students in Paris have had their smoking areas taken away from them

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125 Comments
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    Mute Patrick Bateman
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:28 AM

    Sounds like fun. Might sign up for the next one, thanks for letting us know about the game IKEA.

    511
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    Mute yorkie robinson
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:22 AM

    Decomposed body found in ikea wardrobe ,mystery of missing world hide and go seek champion 1987 solved .

    341
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    Mute Life in no motion
    Favourite Life in no motion
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:29 AM

    Stockholm syndrome!

    304
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    Mute Hardly Normal
    Favourite Hardly Normal
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    Mar 17th 2015, 12:46 PM

    Between the name and comment i believe that’s one of the cleverest comments on here in ages..

    41
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    Mute Shane Freeney
    Favourite Shane Freeney
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:44 AM

    That’s hilarious ! If i was 20 years younger no wait I’d still do it
    Love it

    110
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    Mute LittleBlackPetal
    Favourite LittleBlackPetal
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:51 AM

    They’re just asking for more games of it now! Definitely more fun when you’re not allowed to do something

    106
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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    Mar 17th 2015, 12:47 PM

    Ever been to IKEA? Its so bloody big that you play hide and seek whether you like it or not!

    91
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    Mute Jonathan McKee
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    Mar 17th 2015, 11:01 AM

    Maybe stop changing the floor layout and people might not get lost :-)

    86
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    Mute Glen
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:25 AM

    Follow the arrows folks!

    64
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    Mute Bill Rooney
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    Mar 17th 2015, 1:02 PM

    seriously….

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:38 AM

    Hilarious!

    People are so creative in subverting the consumerism of IKEA.

    IKEA therefore I am.

    63
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    Mute Eoin Cepeda
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:53 AM

    In 4th and good couple of friends and I played it in the Dublin store. It actually lasted a good while!

    57
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    Mute Eoin Cepeda
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    Mar 17th 2015, 11:17 AM

    In 4th year a*

    23
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    Mute Huey
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:40 AM

    PR stunt. Make your shops easier to navigate

    54
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    Mute potty o shea
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:44 AM

    Agree Huey! Went to IKEA 3 weeks ago for some picture frames and I still can’t find my way out !!!

    156
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    Mute Foxtrot Hotel
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    Mar 17th 2015, 12:29 PM

    Ever been to Eindhoven? Probably the most exciting thing to ever happen there.

    39
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    Mute Denis O Donovan
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    Mar 17th 2015, 11:57 AM

    There was one organised for the dublin store last year. I don’t know how successful it was though!

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    Mute Philip Kenna
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    Mar 17th 2015, 12:05 PM

    I went to that one last year but no one turned up, that or I couldn’t find them!

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    Mute Matt Dempsey
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    Mar 17th 2015, 12:33 PM

    Never been to Any of their stores

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    Mute Fiona McCormack
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    Mar 17th 2015, 1:00 PM

    As if it doesn’t take long enough to get around an IKEA store already!

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Mar 17th 2015, 12:22 PM

    I so gotta have a go at this.

    12
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    Mute John Ward
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    Mar 17th 2015, 11:58 AM

    A crap advertising campaign but it seems to be working!

    12
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