Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health his plans to raise the price of a packet of cigarettes to cover the cost to the health service of patients with smoking related illnesses who use hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39140/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware smoking is the largest single cause of preventable mortality in Ireland, killing over 5,200 people every year. Evidence shows that pricing is a key tool in the efforts to control smoking and in particular preventing children and adolescents from taking up the habit. Earlier this year an international group of health economists and tobacco control experts (PPACTE) called for an increase in the taxation of all tobacco products as the most effective way to make them inaccessible to consumers. As you know this Government increased the excise duty on tobacco products in the last budget. The Tobacco Policy Review Group will be reporting to me in the near future and is considering the issue of excise duties on tobacco products. I am of the view that increasing tax on tobacco together with the strengthening of policy, services and programmes will be effective in reducing smoking prevalence in this country.