Varadkar wanted a sugar tax in Budget 2016

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said he would have liked to see a sugar tax in Budget 2016, but that his request wasn’t granted.

A tax on sugar-sweetened drinks was one of the measures Leo Varadkar had suggested as a means of tackling obesity, particularly in the young.

While he said it might still happen in future, Minister Varadkar said it was not to be, this year.

“I did write to Minister Noonan advocating a favour of a sugar tax,” The Health Minister said, “and that remains my view and that is the view of the chief medical officer.

“It didn’t make it into legislation or into the Budget this year, but that is not to say it won’t in future years.”