Sir – Ben Eustace and John Browne (Letters, May 2nd.) are correct. Spending on cigarettes is a discretionary matter. However, as a non-smoker I am compelled to pay for the consequences of the smoking habits of others.
The cost to the health system, according to figures quoted by the Department of Health, is €1 billion per annum — many multiples of the income to RTÉ of the licence fee.
I suppose in the type of free market on which they seem so keen smokers will pay for the full cost, or failing that I will get a tax rebate from the health budget. Yours, etc,
PADRAIG O’ROURKE,
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Shrewsbury,
Merrion Road ,
Dublin 4
