A former Health Minister is calling for the smoking ban to be extended to outdoor areas where food is served.
Dr. James Reilly says "nobody can enjoy a meal outdoors on a sunny day in this country, without having to inhale other people’s smoke."
The Senator believes people who want to smoke should have to take their break in a separate area.
"While our smoking ban was a really progressive move and lauded internationally, unfortunately one of the unintended consequences has been the prevalence of smokers in the outdoor areas of bars, cafés and restaurants", he said.
He praised Dublin businesses like Jo Burger and Metro Café, which have already made the move to ban smoking where food is served, and suggested that other food businesses ask customers who want to smoke to move to another outdoor space where food isn't being served.
Anyone looking for support should go to the HSE’s dedicated website quit.ie.
