Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I say that as a reformed smoker. We articulated our views last year on foot of the measure to increase the price of tobacco products. The Tánaiste will be aware that we called for an increase in our alternative budget submission. We believe the increase should be in the order of 20 cent. If the Tánaiste read our document, he would have read that money should be ring-fenced to deal with black-market activity. The principle that applies is nearly the same that applied last year. I am nearly rehearsing my contribution of last year. The price of cigarettes can be a deterrent to smokers in some cases. In other cases, it will not be. In some cases, it is just hitting hard in the pocket people with an addiction who cannot give up cigarettes, for whatever reason. International evidence suggests, however, that a price increase can act as a deterrent. However, if we examine the evidence in this State, where the cost of cigarettes has increased quite substantially in recent years, one notes that the percentage of smokers, at 29%, has remained-----

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