Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not support the increase in the price of cigarettes and tobacco even though I do not smoke myself. It is very hard to place an extra cost on people who have to smoke. There are many elderly people who were smoking before any education was available on the effects of cigarettes and it is impossible for them to give up now. This increase will not encourage them to stop and it is not the way to go. It should be education, education and education. I do not like smoking myself and it hurts to see young people doing it. However, this is not the way to go. Tobacco is expensive enough as it is and pensioners got no rise in the budget. As such, this is very unfair.

My views on carbon taxes are well known. There was already a carbon tax on fuel. Diesel is now going up to €1.50 a litre, which is an excessive cost that people will not be able to bear. Working people and people in rural Ireland have no other way to travel but by car or the SUVs that farmers need so much. There is no sound alternative at present. As such, I will call for divisions on both resolutions.

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