Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 September 2016
119. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Finance if he and the Minister for Health considered the pre-budget submission of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland; his plans to introduce a sugar tax on health promotion grounds as proposed in the submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27610/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks (SSDs). The tax will contribute towards important public health goals, as well providing a new source of revenue for public spending. The Department of Health has also supported the introduction of a tax on SSDs in order to reduce added-sugar in diets, particularly the diets of children and young people. The proposed tax on SSDs is seen as just one measure in the Department of Health's comprehensive plan to tackle obesity in Ireland, published last week.
Sugar-sweetened drinks taxes have been introduced in a number of European countries in recent years. The UK is due to introduce a soft-drinks industry levy from April 2018. The UK is currently undertaking a consultation process with the soft drinks industry to ensure that the levy they introduce will be effective from a public health perspective, efficient to collect and not onerous on the industry. The proposal for a tax on SSDs in Ireland was examined by the Tax Strategy Group. The papers are available on my Department's website. The timing of the introduction of a SSD tax and design of such a tax is currently under consideration as part of the budgetary process.
