Sir, - I note (Business, February 4th) that Ireland's inflation rate is now the highest in the EU and that one of the main contributory factors is the increase of 50p in the price of tobacco products in the last Budget.
Ash Ireland has consistently lobbied the Departments of Health and Finance with regard to taking tobacco out of the basket of products which constitute the basis of Ireland's Consumer Price Index. This has already been done in several European countries.
International research has proven that significant price increases cause smokers to quit and dissuade some young people from buying tobacco products.
We again request the Government to take tobacco products from the CPI basket and to continue the policy of significant price increases on tobacco products in future budgets. - Yours, etc.,
Valerie Coghlan, Administrator, ASH Ireland, Northumberland Road, Dublin 4.
