Edinburgh Sucks! | ASH Lies again

ASH

ASH Lies again

By The Basa ⋅ April 20, 2005 ⋅

Abuser of Human Rights - Maureen Moore Mr. O’Sullivan from the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland writes to Scotland to again complain about the latest lies from Scotland’s Chief Smoking Nazi Maureen Moore.

His letter to The Scotsman today sets out the real facts:

Once again, Maureen Moore, of ASH Scotland, misleads readers (Letters, 15 April). Over 200 Irish pubs have closed since the smoking ban was introduced.

The Irish economy grew by 28,000 jobs in 2003, 7,000 of them in the hospitality sector. In 2004, following the smoking ban, it grew by 57,000 jobs, but 7,600 jobs were lost in hospitality. Was that a coincidence?

The average loss of business is in excess of 8 per cent, with some pubs losing between 20 and 30 per cent.

In spite of earlier claims by ASH, the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland does not fully support the smoking ban. We support compromise and accommodation. Independent tests have proved that air extraction and purification can leave the air in a pub which permits smoking cleaner than the air outside.

There has always been support inside and outside the hospitality industry for cleaner air in pubs; 84 per cent of people who work in pubs supported our compromise proposals.

Compromise, accommodation and provision for adequate ventilation are provided in every other European country. Scotland should be wary of the zealot.

T O’SULLIVAN
Vintners’ Federation of Ireland
Castleside Drive
Rathfarnham, Dublin