Sir, - The Irish Heart Foundation regrets that Minister McCreevy in his Budget failed to recognize the internationally accepted fact that price is a major deterrent to young people thinking of experimenting with tobacco. It is also known to be a major contributory factor in motivating confirmed smokers to quit.
Smoking is price sensitive and failure to increase the price means that many smokers may continue to damage their health. Another lost opportunity.
The Foundation welcomes Minister McCreevy's plans to examine ways of taking tobacco out of the National Consumer Price Index (CPI), I hope he will find the means to do this and to introduce a significant price rise, particularly of cigarettes, before increasing numbers of our young people become hooked on tobacco. - Yours, etc.,
Dr. Brian Maurer, President, Irish Heart Foundation, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.