Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I wish to raise the proposed ban on smoking in public places. This follows on from a murder last week in a New York night club in which a bouncer asked a patron to extinguish his cigarette. This resulted in the stabbing of the bouncer who died 11 hours later in hospital. The Vintners Federation of Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation have raised concern as to how the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, will proceed with the ban. I would appreciate if the Leader of the House would arrange for the Minister to inform us how he intends to proceed and whether it will be an all out ban.