"Me? I'm just a lawnmower. You can tell me by the way I walk" March 29, 2004Kudos of the Month- Micheal MartinOn the occasion of the implementation of the smoking ban, I decided to knock this one back up... bb Kudos to Minister Micheal Martin. That's right kids, I'm actually saying something good about a Fianna Fail minister. I know: who would have thunk it? My reason for this is due to the fact that Minister Martin has stuck to his guns regarding the introduction of the smoking ban in Dublin. I believe this to be a courageous, bold and innovative piece of policy. More than that, I hope that centuries from now (global) historians will look back on this moment and identify it as the first step that society took to truly tackle the staggering power of big tobbaco. Throw in the fact that Martin is recieving enormous pressure from the hugely influential Vintners Association (lovely people) and his audacity and resolve are impressive. That's not to say that the minister is top of my love list. Au contraire, the medieval state of the Health Service is a disgrace worthy of a tribunal. Also, we still have some time before the ban comes fully into effect - so we'll have to wait and see if it is enforced... However, just for now Kudos to Micheal Martin. Posted by birdbath at March 29, 2004 01:01 AM | Email a friend this entry | TrackBackComments
Well said Posted by: batmandar at September 3, 2003 11:35 AMThe ban is nationwide, not just Dublin but I have to agree with the grudging respect for the man sticking to his guns. I just hope he has the balls to ride out the grief he'll be getting until it comes into effect. Posted by: Amergin at September 3, 2003 12:29 PMme too... Posted by: birdbath at September 4, 2003 02:34 PMSorry, I think the ban is hypocrisy. If you're that keen to improve the nation's health, ban cigarettes outright. But no, you'd rather have the tax cash, wouldn't you lads? Posted by: blastman at October 16, 2003 08:07 AMIt's a step in the right direction, and an outright ban would only push cigarettes underground and you'd have pushers and drugs gangs getting in on the act and gun battles and Rizla papers costing €10 a pop and... ...sorry. Withdrawal symptoms. Posted by: micko at March 30, 2004 10:35 AMPost a comment
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