Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

-----through measures that could have been taken in the building industry.

This is a tax on poor people addicted to nicotine and another attack on working class people who, unfortunately, are addicted to nicotine. It will make their life even more difficult and more of a struggle than it is currently. The Government has shown its hypocrisy in the issue by giving a break to a section of the alcohol industry in the budget and by not increasing the taxes on the major sector of the alcohol industry. If a rampant increase in price is a genuine measure to reduce consumption, one should consider that alcohol causes untold damage in this country. I am not a prohibitionist by any means and I am in favour of assisting people to use these drugs sensibly. I try to do that and we should all do so. The Government is exhibiting total inconsistency in its approach, which has exposed this as simply a revenue-grabbing measure.

This measure is in keeping with the entire thrust of the budget. While it pretends to be the end of austerity and reverse its effects, it is consolidating the horrific and savage austerity imposed over the past six years. This is a further measure in that regard, as are the savage water charges. Therefore, I oppose the measure.

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