Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

The Deputy's point about the responsibility of members of the general public not to buy these illegal cigarettes is well made. Not only are they effectively defrauding taxpayers in the State, they are also putting their own health at further risk because they are consuming products which have not been verified in the normal way.

The average price of a packet of cigarettes here is €8.65, whereas in Hungary it is €2.06, meaning that smokers in Ireland are paying top-dollar. Raising tax on tobacco products further would simply encourage the illicit trade to which the Deputy refers.

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