Written answers
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Department of Finance
Budget Submissions
2:00 pm
Joe Behan (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Finance further to the pre-budget meeting between his officials and representatives of the tobacco industry in September 2010, the persons who attended the meeting on behalf of the tobacco industry, the topics under discussion and the effect the discussions are likely to have on the formulation of proposals in budget 2011 regarding the tobacco industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40932/10]
Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Officials of my Department met with representatives of the Irish Tobacco Manufacturers Advisory Committee (ITMAC) and representatives from Philip Morris International (PMI). ITMAC was represented by its Chairman, its Secretary and by the CEOs of John Player & Sons and P.J.Carroll & Company Ltd. PMI was represented by its Corporate Affairs Manager UK & Ireland, Corporate Affairs Manager Ireland, Director Corporate Affairs EU and Director Fiscal Affairs & International Trade EU. The bodies outlined their views in regard to a range of issues including developments in the tobacco market, the taxation of tobacco products, the EU Tobacco Excise Directive, the European Court of Justice ruling on setting minimum retail prices for cigarettes and the incidence of tobacco smuggling.
As I said in my reply to the Deputy on 27 October, 2010, it is normal practice for officials of my Department to meet with various interest groups, especially in the run-up to the annual Budget. Decisions in relation to the Budget are taken in the context of a variety of factors, and not on the basis of meetings with industry representatives.
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