In this Issue:

Tourism News News from Us Internet News Poem Final Thought

Tourism News

Smoking Ban

The governments proposed smoking ban, whether intended as a distraction from other issues or as a genuine effort to save us all from ourselves, is certainly not supported by the majority of pub patrons. While polls have given approval ratings ranging from 37% to 67% in favour of a blanket ban, the attitudes of the vast majority of pub patrons (smoking & non-smoking) seems to be that it is unfair and unenforcable. Any law which cannot be enforced universally can only be enforced unfairly.

While we must respect the rights of all people to work, dine and socialise in a safe, clean and healthy environment, we must also respect the rights of free thinking adults to congregate in the environments of their choice and to engage in whatever legal activities they choose. In many rural areas the pub is the social hub of the community, given the general deline in community and society it seems ludicrous that the state would try to accelerate this decline. Instead of "comely maidens dancing at the crossroads" we'll have irate, inebriated, strungout nicotine addicts standing in the rain outside the pub. Or maybe they'll just stay in front of the telly with a cigarette and a can of beer.

The Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance have published a "Regulatory Impact Assessment" report, prepared by A&L Goodbody Consulting, which sets out the problems and pitfalls which will be faced by both the government and the hospitality industry in the event of a blanket ban on smoking in all workplaces. The report also make suggestions as to how a workable solution can be acheived and implemented.
The report is available in .pdf format from A&L Goodbody website. Here>>

While Minister for Health Micheál Martin was in New York meeting officials to study the logistics of bringing in the ban, former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani was in Ireland where he said on Wednesday, that he believed that a compromise situation would create the right balance for both smokers and non-smokers. There is some hope of compromise however as Micheál Martin during his visit to New York has said he is considering compromise solutions for some state institutions, most likely prisons and psychiatric institutions.
Mr. Giulianis remarks
Mr. Martins N.Y. visit

If you would like to free yourself from the deadly weed might find some help here:
www.quitnet.com
www.whyquit.com

Tidy Towns

Congratulations to the winners of Tidy Towns 2003. The announcements and presentations were made at the National Tidy Towns Awards held at Dublin Castle on 08/09/03.
www.tidytowns.ie

Winners:
The Overall National Winner was the village of Keadue Co. Roscommon, (Keadue also won the title in 1993)
www.kilronanparishwebsite.com
Photos: www.castlebar.ie/photos/the-west/keadue/glry

Irelands tidiest small town is Kenmare Co. Kerry.
www.kenmare-exclusive.com

Tidiest large town is Westport co. Mayo.
www.westporttourism.com

The Tidy Towns Competition is run by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and has been sponsored by SuperValu since 1990.

News from us

Travel Directories Ireland continues to grow in popularity as can be seen below.

Page Hits per month	2001	2002	2003
June:	139,987	160,828	180,794
July:	164,228	191,446	208,230
August:	151,023	156,722	189,954

More @: www.eirtravel.info/logs

Internet News

Flat rate internet access has finally arrived to Ireland, here are some of the offers available.

Poem

Are you mad?

Maybe you're glad that you are stark raving mad
with you rushing from pillar to post,
as you tear away through everything you do,
with a chance to be better than most.

Is your chance any lower if you go a bit slower?
Is it better to be more sedate?
You'll never be last If you keep going fast,
But better be late than the late!

From "A Tree Full of Monkeys" By Peter Howrath Castleisland Co. Kerry.

Final Thought

All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter. -- Edmund Burke 1729-1797

Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. -- Albert Einstein.

I desire not to desire, for my will is without value, since I am ignorant in any case. Therefore choose Thou for me what thou knowest to be best and do not put my perdition in what my autonomy and free choice prefer. -- Bayazid Al-Bistami

There are some circles in America where it seems to be more socially acceptable to carry a hand-gun than a packet of cigarettes. -- Katharine Whitehorn

Laws too gentle, are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed. Benjamin Franklin

To make Laws that man cannot, and will not obey, serves to bring all Law into contempt. -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

We find many things to which the prohibition of them constitutes the only temptation. William Hazlitt 1778-1830

For every prohibition you create you also create an underground. Jello Biafra

Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes crimes out of things that are not crimes. Abraham Lincoln

Slán

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