Mr Donohoe had planned to give a reprieve to smokers in the last budget, saying in a handwritten note that he was “reluctant to implement” any further taxes on cigarettes.

The vaping industry welcomed a report from the UK’s House of Commons Science and Technology Committee last week that vaping products should not be treated in the same way as conventional cigarettes, and that e-cigarettes are not a significant “gateway” for young non-smokers.

A British American Tobacco spokeswoman said: "Governments should also take note that the World Trade Organisation dispute on plain packaging is still ongoing."

In 2015, 16.5% of all cigarettes consumed here arrived through the black market.

Tobacco companies have lost their legal challenge against new cigarette plain-packaging rules in Britain.

Tobacco giants have lost their High Court challenge over the lawfulness of the British Government's new plain packaging rules - the day before they are due to come into force.

Children’s Minister James Reilly addressed the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Abu Dhabi on the battle for cigarette plain packaging legislation in Ireland and Europe

The ranks of female bosses in the FTSE 100 Index are to be boosted after Britain’s biggest DIY chain announced a change in leadership.

Preventing smuggled cigarettes coming into Ireland is protecting young people from the very high risks of smoking, writes Kathleen O’Meara.

Markets showed signs of stabilising today after big losses yesterday in the wake of renewed fears about the health of the European banking sector.

Improved sentiment on Wall Street helped blue-chip shares shake off worries over Ukraine and wipe out early session losses.

The tobacco industry is to put special coding on cigarette packets in an effort to cut down on the amount of illegal tobacco smuggled into Ireland — which cost the State an estimated €240m in lost revenue last year.

Burberry’s Angela Ahrendts is one of just three women to head FTSE 100 Index companies along with easyJet’s Carolyn McCall and Alison Cooper at Imperial Tobacco.

New rules to take some of the glamour out of smoking were passed by the European Parliament, but the industry’s massive lobbying campaign won important concessions.

Better-than-expected trade data in China calmed world markets today after a volatile week triggered by the resurfacing of eurozone fears.

Uncertainty caused by tonight's US fiscal cliff deadline quashed any celebrations over a near 6% jump for the FTSE 100 Index over 2012.

One of the world’s biggest tobacco firms today took a fight against a planned cigarette display ban to the UK’s highest court.

London’s FTSE 100 Index powered nearly 1% higher as hefty gains from BP helped it overcome a second day of trading being suspended in storm-ravaged New York.

The FTSE 100 Index is to lose another female chief executive after Cynthia Carroll announced she is to step down as boss of Anglo American.

London's leading shares index closed in the red today after machinery firm Caterpillar and toys giant Hasbro offered more gloom from the US reporting season.

Fears that the European Central Bank will fail to prescribe the medicine needed for the ailing eurozone triggered big losses on London's leading shares index today.

The Government has been urged to follow Australia’s example and strip branding from cigarette packs.

Australia’s highest court upheld the world’s toughest law on tobacco promotion today, despite protests from tobacco companies fearing for the value of their trademarks under new rules that will strip all logos from cigarette packs.

Marks & Spencer and Burberry featured on a shortened fallers board today as the wider London market made decent gains following an encouraging debt auction in beleaguered Spain.

Rising oil prices and optimism that Greece will be saved from a calamitous default helped drive London’s leading shares index closer to the 6000 mark today.

More positive signs from the US failed to lift London’s leading shares index today as fears over the eurozone and a credit agency warning to banks rattled investors.

Banking stocks led strong gains on the London market today as optimism surrounding the global economic outlook strengthened.

London's leading shares index closed above the 5,700 mark for the first time in nearly three months today but global growth fears continued to spook investors.

UK banking stocks lost ground today after British business secretary Vince Cable said proposals for a radical industry shake-up would be accepted in full.

The London market made nervous gains today as traders waited for the details of a eurozone rescue plan set to be hammered out a crunch meeting of politicians.

The London market slumped 2% today as the increasing likelihood of a Greek debt default shook investor confidence.

The London market was led higher by retailers today after encouraging results from Next and John Lewis provided the sector with some much-needed cheer.

Cigarettes and cigar giant Imperial Tobacco today warned profits from its Spanish business would fall by 40% this year after a price war broke out in the country.

Traders shrugged off sovereign debt woes and sustained violence in Libya as reassuring results from Next and B&Q owner Kingfisher boosted the retail sector.

Intense fighting in Libya remained top of investors minds' today as stocks fell into the red once more on rising oil prices.

The London market continued its rally today after the European Central Bank stepped up efforts to contain the continent's government debt crisis.

The FTSE 100 Index pressed ahead today on the back of a strong show from the oil and gas sector and a weaker US dollar.

Robust third quarter updates from the likes of BP and insurance giant Aviva helped drive further gains on London’s blue chip share index today.

Imperial Tobacco today said it sold more cigarettes in the UK than a year ago as smokers looked for cheaper brands – bucking the trend worldwide.

TOBACCO firm PJ Carroll saw its pre-tax profits plunge from €10.1m to €4.8m last year as the number of cigarettes smoked in Ireland fell to 4.5 billion from 5.1bn.

The FTSE 100 Index lost hold of early gains by midday today as investors continued to fret about recovery prospects for the world economy.

Better-than-expected economic data in the United States provided a late session boost for London’s blue chip share index today.

Central bankers failed to soothe the nerves of investors today after key reports highlighted the global economy's fragile recovery prospects.

The FTSE 100 Index pushed nearly 2% higher today as shares were buoyed by healthy economic signs from the Eurozone.

The FTSE 100 rose more than 1% today as markets were cheered by strong US corporate results and a major acquisition at home.

Strong gains on Wall Street helped limit losses for under-pressure BP today as the wider FTSE 100 Index also pulled back from early heavy falls.

The FTSE 100 Index crept into positive territory today during another choppy session dominated by worries over the scale of Europe’s debt crisis.

The London market stemmed its losses today as worries over the Greek debt crisis were eased by better news from the US and healthy corporate results.

The London market lost 2.6% today as world indices were battered by fresh fear over Greece’s debt woes amid concerns that other European nations could be swept up in the crisis.

Mining firms dragged the FTSE 100 Index into the red today despite profits cheer from part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group.