Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 February 2014
194. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate and expand on the way he proposes to raise the €5m in revenue from tobacco retailers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8394/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under current Irish tobacco control legislation a retailer wishing to sell tobacco products, whether over the counter or from a self-service vending machine, must register with the HSE National Tobacco Control Office and be placed on the Retail Register for the sale of tobacco products. Under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002, as amended, the HSE may charge a fee as may be determined by the Minister for Health. To date this has been a once off fee of €50.
Tobacco Free Ireland, Ireland’s tobacco control policy, sets out recommendations for the future regulation of the tobacco retail environment. The Government proposes to increase the Retail Register fee during 2014, in the context of legislation to provide for the licensing of the sale of tobacco products as outlined in Tobacco Free Ireland. Work is ongoing in relation to this legislation, and as such details are not yet available.
