New €1.5m smoking shed opens at Leinster House

By Paul McRingo Tobacco Correspondent

A new smoking shed built on the grounds of Leinster House for TD’s who like to light up has come in at just over €1.5 million.

A breakdown of costs from the OPW shows that €600,000 was spent on the main construction and installation, €400,000 on drawings and plans and €500,000 on ashtrays.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told a press conference this morning that he believes the Irish people would have no problem paying for somewhere for their hard-working elected representatives to smoke in comfort.

“I don’t smoke myself but I don’t think those that do should have to stand out in the rain when taking a puff. This is a modern, state of the art construction and it has been completed on time and at just one and a half million quid, well under budget. This is yet another example of this government spending Irish tax payers money wisely.”

Unfortunately legislation is expected to pass next week that will make all of Leinster House, including the grounds outside, a smoke-free zone so the new smoking shed will probably have to be demolished.