Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

There has been a good deal of sanctimonious talk from the Government about health, but there is no ring-fencing of this money to take real measures to assist people to stop smoking or to reduce smoking in any way, shape or form. This is a revenue raising exercise. In the Budget Statement the Minister said: "The measures I have announced today will cost an estimated €585 million next year, and this has to be paid for. So, with effect from midnight tonight, the price of 20 cigarettes will increase by 40 cent". In other words, there is nothing about setting aside this money to reduce smoking. What has anything said by Members on the Government side got to do with health?

The only real vote being called tonight on the budget is on this measure. In other words, this is actually a vote on the budget as well. People are sitting outside or at home watching on "RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock". It is important that people vote against this proposal since it is the only thing the Government has done. Unfortunately, it disproportionately affects working class people who have an addiction. The Government has no intention of doing anything about that with this money.

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