Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

I will keep my fingers crossed and enjoy smoking in the meantime.

If it was intended that this measure would have the effect of preventing people from smoking, we would see a reduction in income to the State and not an increase. However, this is a farce. A 30 cent increase will not stop anybody buying a packet of cigarettes but a €3 increase might do so. If we put a €3 increase on a packet of cigarettes, we would see a reduction in revenue to the State from cigarette smoking.

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