The imposition of significant taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products in order to deter smoking is forcing some people in lower income areas to go without food so they can satisfy their addictions, the Oireachtas Finance Committee has heard.
During a discussion of pre-budget submissions with a range of health interest groups, Labour TD Kevin Humphreys said the rise in the price of cigarettes in shops was forcing people to either buy smuggled or counterfeit products or go without essential items.
Responding, Chris Macey of the Irish Heart Foundation said the tax was “regressive” but that the proportion of people smoking in Ireland had fallen from 29 per cent to 22 per cent in recent times and that higher prices were a “key driver” of the trend.
He said research involving young people had shown that they considered the cheapest cigarette to be the most attractive to them, and that while a “crude instrument” on its own, price rises were important as part of a suite or measures to combat smoking.
Representatives of the Irish Medical Organisation refused to be drawn on a suggestion from Mr Humphreys that GPs in certain areas, regardless of the quality of their offering, were all setting their prices at similar levels, which he said was “anti-competitive”.
They said the organisation had no role in private practice or how its members set their prices as that would in fact be anti-competitive.
Replying to questions about the odious working hours facing junior doctors, IMO president Matthew Sadlier said it was “amazing” and a shocking indictment that people were being expected to provide intensive care to patients while working shifts of between 24 and 48 hours.
Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said it was “quite incredible” that the “running scandal” of junior doctors hours had continued for decades and he asked the IMO if it intended to properly address the issue or come to a “shabby compromise” that left junior doctors in a similar mess.
Dr Sadlier said there was a definite drive within the junior group to find a solution to be issue but that he could not say much else on the matter.
Fine Gael TD Liam Twomey, a Wexofrd GP, said it was “disgraceful” doctors were working so hard as it was “significantly dangerous” for patient care.
Source: Steven Carroll, Irish Times, 12/09/2013
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