Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am disappointed by the tenor of the remarks of some of the Members opposite. They should read the Irish Heart Foundation’s pre-budget submission which speaks of lower income and price control measures. A total of 5,200 people in our country will die from tobacco smoke, which costs our State €1 billion. I challenge the Members opposite to read not just the Irish Heart Foundation’s submission, but also one from the Canadian Cancer Society where Robert Cunningham, a policy analyst, says price and affordability are the biggest influences and factors.

To refer to Deputy Higgins’ point, those at the lower level of income are the least likely to take it up, in particular young people. We all recognise that the tobacco industry is targeting young people because it needs new people to come in to the market every day. Let us be honest: this is not a question of raising income. We have a duty of care as health policy advocates to promote the achievement of a tobacco-free Ireland by 2025.

That is what we must try to do. It requires a compendium of approaches. As Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, I would like to see some of the money being ring-fenced for cessation programmes and for retail. Deputy Ó Caoláin and I sat on the committee, which this year dealt with legislation around plain packaging We must look at ways to support retailers to get alternative sources of income.

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