Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering rebalancing the excise tax structure on cigarettes by reducing the [i]ad valorem[/i] element significantly and increasing the specific element of excise tax, thereby removing the tax discount for cheap cigarettes; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 12 EU member states have rebalanced their tax structures by reducing the [i]ad valorem[/i] element and increasing the specific element of excise tax, and have increased total excise revenue return as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5485/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that Ireland has the highest prices and excise duty levels for cigarettes in the EU and already applies a high specific duty element and a low ad valorem element in setting its excise duty for cigarettes relative to other Member States. However the question of re-balancing the excise tax structure will be examined in the context of the 2012 Finance Bill.