Danny Healy-Rae Opposes 50c Cigarette Hike, Cites Mental Health
Danny Healy-Rae spoke against a proposed 50 cent increase on cigarettes, arguing it would impose hardship on people with mental health problems and would not stop smoking. He said extra social welfare payments would not cover the higher costs and announced he would not support the measure.
Opposition to tobacco tax
The speaker opposed the proposed 50 cent increase on a pack of cigarettes, calling the measure unfair and ineffective at reducing smoking among addicted users.
Concerns for people with mental health problems
He argued the tax would place "undrew hardship, especially on people with mental health problems," saying smoking can be a consolation for those with depression or other mental illness.
Impact on household finances
He pointed out that the small extra social welfare payments will not cover the increased cost, and that an additional 50 cents will not prevent people who are addicted from buying cigarettes.
Education versus price rises
He suggested greater emphasis should be placed on education in schools about the harmfulness of smoking, rather than relying on price increases to change behaviour.
Comparison with carbon tax and vulnerable groups
He compared the cigarette increase to the carbon tax, arguing that both measures can unfairly hurt people who need fuel to get to work or to keep warm, including elderly and vulnerable citizens.
Vote intention
He concluded by saying he considered the proposal nonsensical for the reasons stated and that he would not be voting for the measure.
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Thank you very much, Crown Caller. I too am opposed to this tax, Crown Caller, I feel, to place undrew hardship, especially on people with mental health problems. They will tell you that this is the only consolation that they have, and if we weigh up what the 50 cents is, the extra money that they are going to get in their social welfare won't even cover the extra costs. If they want to smoke a packet of cigarettes a day or whatever, maybe a couple more in the run of the week, the extra fiver won't go far with this, and it will never stop those people of having or wanting to smoke. Many of them had developed addiction for cigarettes long before it became clear that it was harmful. I think we should be trying to do something in our schools, by the way of increased education about the harmfulness of smoking. But people living alone, many of them, that have this crave for cigarettes, I think it is unfair to suggest that this increase in the cost of the box of cigarettes would help them or make them think that they should stop smoking. I think that is a fairly ridiculous suggestion. And much the same as the carbon tax, people have to use fuel to get to work and for all the other things, and elderly people to keep themselves warm. This again is nonsensical, and I think more thought should have been put into it. It is going to hurt people that have mental illness or maybe depression, and that is all they could reach for or want to reach for when they are in a certain situation. I think they are certainly expensive as it is, and adding 50 cents to them won't stop people of smoking. I think it is fairly ridiculous, and I won't be voting for this measure anyway. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
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