Trade leaders in Northern Ireland have called an emergency meeting following increased pressure for a smoking ban. The Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade (FRLT), representing Northern Ireland's pubs and bars, has called the high level summit to plan the trade's next steps in pushing forward compliance with the voluntary Charter.
The meeting has been called following pressure from three Northern Irish charities, which have launched a joint campaign to press for a total smoking ban in public places. The Ulster Cancer Foundation, Action Cancer and the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association are lobbying members of the newly-revived Ulster Assembly for support.
The charities say the present system, in which employers are encouraged to ban smoking on a voluntary basis, is not tough enough.
Nicola Jamison, chief executive of the FRLT, said the meeting would consider ways pub and bar operators could step up compliance with the Charter, as well as get across the message that voluntary controls are working.
The Smoking Charter promotes the use of signage, good ventilation and no-smoking areas where possible.
Ms Jamison said: "It's generally accepted that the licensed trade in the Republic did itself no favours by taking a confrontational approach. Our aim is to show the authorities that we're willing to compromise to make voluntary smoking controls work."
Licensees are fearful that a smoking ban will lead to a drop in trade and a loss of jobs. There is also concern that the impending smoking ban in southern Ireland could bring increased pressure for no-smoking legislation.
Licensees' groups from the Republic will brief the meeting on the smoking ban due to be implemented in Irish pubs and bars. Nick Bish, chairman of the Charter Group, and Oliver Griffiths, spokesman for the Atmosphere Improves Results (AIR) campaign, are also attending the meeting.
Bob Senior (pictured), managing director of Ultimate Leisure, which has expanded into Northern Ireland over the past year, said: "The recent letter from ASH sent to all operators has raised the stakes. Having a co-ordinated approach that covers Northern Ireland as well as the rest of the UK would help us tackle the issue effectively."
Action Cancer chief executive Robin McRoberts insisted that recent studies provide firm evidence of the relationship between passive smoking and lung cancer in the workplace.
He was reported saying: "Prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of developing lung cancer by more than 20 per cent."
Northern Ireland's chief medical officer, Dr Henrietta Campbell, has already come out in favour of a total smoking ban.
- A bill put forward by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff to ban smoking in public places in Wales was unopposed by the House of Lords this week. Although unlikely to be passed by the government it was calling for a three-month jail sentence for people who light up in pubs and bars.
Licensees in Dundee have called for the city's licensing board to reverse its new policy, which bans smoking in pubs with children's certificates. Licensing board chairman Neil Powrie insists the ban is to stay.