Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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245. To ask the Minister for Finance if officials within his Department have met with representatives of the tobacco industry, contrary to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Ireland has ratified (details supplied); if so, the details of such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3989/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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246. To ask the Minister for Finance if officials within his Department do not meet with representatives of the tobacco industry, in adherence to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Ireland has ratified (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3990/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.

I am aware of Article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which states: "In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law."

In the context of public health policy, interactions with the tobacco industry should be limited and where interactions do take place, they should be conducted with maximum transparency in line with FCTC guidelines. The guidelines apply to setting and implementing Parties’ public health policies with respect to tobacco control. They also apply to persons, bodies or entities that contribute to, or could contribute to, the formulation, implementation, administration or enforcement of those policies. The Department of Health holds primacy in the development and promotion of public health policies.

Officials in my Department have limited engagement with the tobacco industry. Each year, industry representatives send pre-Budget submissions to the Department of Finance. These submissions are high level and typically give an overall view of market trends, including in relation to illicit tobacco and non-Irish duty paid tobacco in Ireland. On occasion, these representatives have met with Department of Finance officials to present their submissions. All interactions with the tobacco industry are accountable and transparent. The formulation and implementation of public health policies for tobacco control are not discussed with tobacco industry representatives, nor is any other information in relation to work being done by the Department of Finance.

I, and my officials, have responsibility for the taxation element of tobacco public health policy. Ireland currently has the highest rate of excise duty on tobacco products in the EU. This reflects a long-standing policy of levying high rates of excise duty on tobacco products to meet public health targets and to encourage people to quit smoking. Rate increases of 50 cent on 20 pack cigarettes (Most Popular Price Category) have been implemented in each of the last 8 budgets with pro rata or higher increases applied to Roll Your Own. It is clear that the limited interactions that the Department of Finance has with the tobacco industry has not impacted the taxation element of public health polices for tobacco. Other elements of public health polices are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Health.