DUBLIN, Ireland, April 1 (UPI) -- Blatant defiance of Ireland's new smoking ban has cost a Irish member of parliament his job, The Telegraph reported Thursday.
Apparently making a personal statement, John Deasy, the justice spokesman for the Fine Gael party smoked several cigarettes in the parliamentary bar Tuesday night.
The newspaper noted the bar is just steps away from the chambers where Europe's most sweeping smoking legislation was enacted.
Deasy reportedly tried to move to an outside area to smoke with his drink, but bar staff refused to let him out, so he began smoking inside.
Party leader Enda Kenny summoned Deasy to discuss the incident Wednesday night, but Deasy didn't show up.
Kenny said as a result, he had no choice but to dismiss him as justice spokesman.
