Vol. 542 No. 4
127 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has to increase the excise charged on cigarette products; if he will remove tobacco from the consumer price index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24654/01]
As the Deputy is no doubt aware it is not customary for the Minister for Finance to indicate in advance what measures, if any, will be taken in the budget. It is not my intention to break with this tradition.
In relation to the second part of the question, the Director General of the Central Statistics Office – CSO – has sole responsibility for, and is independent in deciding, the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the consumer price index – CPI.
The CSO currently publishes a data series for both the CPI and the CPI excluding tobacco.
