Northern Ireland is set to follow the example of the Republic of Ireland and Scotland by outlawing smoking in all public places

Health minister Shaun Woodward announced today that the measures would mean a blanket ban across the hospitality sector from April 2007.

He said in support of his decision: “From my visit to New York, I learnt the staggering fact that a non-smoker on an eight-hour shift in a bar could inhale the equivalent of 10 cigarettes. People arguing against total control point to ventilation being a solution, but ventilation doesn’t work.”

Dr Brian Patterson, chairman of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland, said: “He [Woodward] has listened to the people of Northern Ireland and held his nerve in deciding to give them the total ban for which they have called.”

But the decision disappointed the Federation of the Retailed Licensed Trade, which was hoping for a partial ban at bars and around food, or separate smoking rooms.

A federation spokesman said: “A full ban will have a devastating effect on the trade, with around 66% of our members believing they will have to lay-off staff.”

• Hoburne Group has become the first holiday park company in the UK to stub out smoking from all its indoor public areas. The ban (which does not include accommodation) will take effect across its seven holiday parks from March 2006.