Martin to budget for 50c rise on cigarettes

Minister for Health Micheál Martin says he will lobby the Department of Finance to add 50 cent to the price of 20 cigarettes in the next Budget.

The price hike would apply shortly after the ban on workplace smoking comes into effect in the New Year.

The minister has just returned from his fact-finding mission to New York, where he said he was "impressed" by the smoking ban in operation there.

The cash-strapped Government generated €140m from the 50c rise in cigarette prices in last year’s Budget.