VIDEO: Noonan laughs off 'Nidge tax' jibe over cigarette hike

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan has laughed off suggestions that hiking the price of a packet of cigarettes to €10 amounts to a "Nidge tax".

The phrase was coined by Independent TD Finian McGrath, who said only the black market will benefit from the 40 cent increase in excise duty.

When he was asked about the comparison with the crime drama 'Love/Hate', Minister Noonan said: "Thank you very much for your review of popular television programmes, I like to keep in touch with modern culture.

"It was the only tax increase in the Budget and it wasn't brought in to raise revenue, it's being advocated to the anti-cancer societies and was advocated by the department."