Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am a reformed smoker. I gave up cigarettes because I wanted to give them up and because of my health at the time I gave them up. Taxing people for whom this is their only comfort is not the right thing to do. I will not be in favour of this tax for that reason. This is the only comfort that many people have. They might suffer from a nervous disposition or, as some people said to me, it is their only bit of sanity even though they do not smoke much. This is coming from a reformed smoker. As long as they respect where I am and do not smoke in my area, I am happy. I do not think a tax is the right thing to do at this time, especially when it might be the only comfort that people have. It might keep them away from stronger drugs if they had a cigarette or two.

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