Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Excise on tobacco are a considerable method by which taxation is collected for the Exchequer. It is also true to say - this has not been said previously on the floor of the House - that a percentage of that money is allocated to the health budget to deal with issues appertaining to smoking.

I have answered as many questions as I can. The methods by which we are increasing taxation on capital and wealth are, in my view, the best in current circumstances in terms of expanding the tax base.

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