Anti-smoking lobby set for clash with unions

THE anti-smoking lobby is on a collision course with trade unions and the country’s statisticians over proposals to reform the way cigarette price rises are measured.

ASH Ireland wants the Government to exclude rises in the price of a packet of cigarettes when calculating the official inflation rate. This will allow the Government to hike up prices without affecting the rate of inflation — which is one of Europe’s highest at 5%.

Removing the cost of cigarettes would also help lower the existing rate.