Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I wish to return to the issue of a tobacco regulator, which is innovative. Is it idealistic? There are two ways for the State to extract profit from tobacco companies, which operate legal businesses in this country. Some 79% of the total profit goes to excise or VAT. Has there been any legal opinion as to whether it is possible for any government to engage in a profit tax that is different from income or corporation tax? The witnesses do not have the figures but what if the State got approximately €250 million from the €1.36 billion, with the retailers getting a chunk, along with people working for the companies and costs for buildings, etc.? The tobacco companies would have a profit so has it been ascertained if it would be legal to propose to treat the profit differently than that of any other industry legally carried out in the State?