Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The evidence is that the amount of tobacco and cigarettes being sold over the past few years has increased. Perhaps I am wrong about that but I am pretty sure it is the case that there has been an increase. The excuse given is that a large number of people have come here from central and eastern Europe, that they smoke a lot and that is the reason for the increase. I am, however, a bit sceptical that is the case.

The Taoiseach said he expected a 1% decrease in consumption. What were the estimates in previous years in respect of decreases in consumption? Did they prove accurate? Obviously, the purpose of levying increased taxes on tobacco is as a sin tax and it is, therefore, only effective if it reduces consumption and is not successful if it only increases revenue.

There is a large number of boxes of cigarettes which have stamps on them. What measures will be put in place to ensure cigarette manufacturers and potentially retailers do not cash in on those cigarettes stuck in the middle, so to speak, between the new and the old regimes?

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