Charities want tobacco firms to pay more tax

Health charities have called on the Government to impose stricter regulation on tobacco companies to force them to pay more tax.

The proposal is made in a joint pre-budget submission by the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation.

The charities have also asked the Government to introduce annual tax increases of 5% above inflation on tobacco products — a move the charities claim would lead to a 60c increase on a pack of cigarettes this year.