Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Senator O'Hara. I am delighted he was looking at the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis and our new Taoiseach's speech, but I point out climate formed part of that speech. It opened up with "The world is changing, and we need to work together on climate action" and finished with "Fine Gael wants to support you to make the change in your home, in your farm, in your business".

I take the opportunity to congratulate my Longford-Westmeath colleague, Deputy Burke, on his elevation to the role of Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. He has been an excellent representative of the constituency and I look forward to joining him after the next general election.

I have raised cigarette pricing and youngsters vaping on a number of occasions. Some issues have been brought to my attention and one in particular is the fact of cheaper cigarettes being sold within shops. It is all to do with the minimum excise duty tax policy that is currently set at €11.50 for 20 cigarettes while most brands are, as we know, selling for €16.75. The last time it was increased was September 2020 and it is now €5 below the MPPC, meaning it is really becoming ineffective. What we have now is cigarettes being sold more cheaply and it is making them more available to a younger market and young kids who are smoking and should not be. We all know the ill effects of it, so I would like the Minister for Finance to look at this and increase it to bring those prices back up with the main prices to keep smoking out of reach of the younger generation.