The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has said it is ‘gravely concerned’ about the detrimental impact that last week’s European Court of Justice ruling on minimum cigarette prices imposed in Ireland could have on the nation’s health.
On March 4, the Court decided that minimum cigarette prices imposed by Ireland, Austria and France were contrary to Directive 95/59.
“Smoking kills around 7,000 people in this country each year and smoking-related illness costs the health services an estimated €1 billion,” said Michael O’Shea, Chief Executive of the IHF.
“It’s imperative that the latest ruling doesn’t result in a failure to maintain cigarette prices at current levels, which currently acts as a major deterrent to new and existing smokers.”
O’Shea said that in a letter to Government, the IHF stressed that such a development would result in more people, particularly in the younger age brackets, starting, which would lead to increased mortality rates and a greater burden on our health service.
“The Court said that countries could achieve the same goal by raising excise duties on cigarettes,” said O’Shea.
“The Irish Heart Foundation is calling for tobacco tax to be increased at least to maintain the status quo.”
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