Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tobacco causes serious societal and health damage throughout the State and has a massive impact on the health budget. I welcome the progressive moves by the Government with regard to trying to reduce the level of smoking within the State. Unless the measure is backed up with equal measures to stop smuggling tobacco, we will see a change from legally purchased tobacco to smuggled tobacco and the health impact we desire will not be met. One of my worries is that this may be a revenue raising stream.

It is also important to remember the large number of retailers in the State for whom this is a part of their product mix and one of the most important elements of footfall. The retail sector has lost many jobs over recent years. If the measure simply transfers the purchase of the product from the legal sector to the illegal sector, another section of enterprise will be badly hit. I welcome the positive moves to try to reduce the number of smokers but the Government must focus on both ends of the problem.

See this speech in context