Norway slam “Progressive Ireland”

Norway has followed Ireland to become the second nation in the world to ban smoking in all bars and restaurants.
Like Ireland, Norway is seeking to protect waiters and other restaurant and bar staff from second-hand smoke blamed for causing cancer, respiratory and heart diseases.
It is the fact that Ireland introduced the ban first that has got up the Scandinavians’ collective noses.

“Who do the Irish think they are?” Norwegian foreign affairs minister Jan Peterson said.

“We pass the most progressive laws in the world for other nations to adopt, it’s our thing.”

“After this and the plastic bag tax, we’ll be lucky to maintain our enlightened image. Can’t someone persuade the Irish to stop?” He continued.

“Norway thought of the ban first, but the Irish implemented before us. They would never admit to it of course. I am seriously considering severing diplomatic relations.”

When Mr. Peterson heard that Irish are thinking of introducing a ban on children’s advertising he was not surprised.

“The Irish haven’t had an original idea in their lives. They abandoned social progression in the 1900’s, when England left. It’s about time they pulled up their socks.”

“The way they advertise to children makes me ill, perhaps they should consider a ban on fast food ads also” He added.

When Brian Cowan, Ireland minister for foreign affairs was asked about the Norwegian’s claim that we had stolen their idea, he had this to say.

“Those guys think they have a monopoly on good ideas, but we are showing the world that we can be just as progressive as a bunch of backward sunlight deprived soused herring eaters. Now the English are thinking about introducing the ban. Even the Scots are looking to adopt it, and they have nothing else to do.”

“We are constantly the more open-minded and forward thinking country. We even put in a traveller as our entrant to the eurovision song contest. We may have come second last, but we still beat Norway. Never again will the world hear the words ‘The Norwegians have beaten us to it’.”

The dispute looks set to escalate.