210. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned that the decision not to raise the minimum excise duty on cigarettes in Budget 2024 has rendered this ineffective as a policy tool to support public policy objectives, allowing tobacco manufacturers to absorb the 75c general excise increase, rather than pass it on to consumers as intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28609/24]

Decisions on excise duty and the mechanisms for implementation are ultimately a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance. Raising taxes on tobacco is one of the measures recommended by the World Health Organisation in its MPOWER suite of measure to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. I will continue to seek taxation increases each year in order to further reduce demand for tobacco products.