Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

That is the way it comes, as the Ceann Comhairle knows.

On many occasions I have heard the organisation ASH call for an increase in the price of cigarettes because it suggests that it deters people from starting to smoke. Dr. Fenton Howell, who heads up that organisation, used to be with the North Eastern Health Board before he moved on to those greener pastures. I accept that argument.

Will the €63 million, which will be raised in 2008, go straight to the Exchequer or is there a prospect that it might be ring-fenced for lung cancer or cardiovascular treatments associated with cigarette smoking, for example?

See this speech in context