ICTU must kick a bad habit over price hikes

IN THE post-Budget debate, many commentators have expressed surprise that the Minister for Finance did not use the opportunity to increase the price of tobacco products

In the Dáil debate following the budget, the Tánaiste stated that there was significant support within the Government to add to the 50 cent increase on tobacco products, but that Consumer Price Index (CPI) and inflation concerns created difficulties. She also stated that the programme for government included an intention to discuss the CPI issue with the social partners.

It is disturbing now to learn that ICTU disagreed with the idea of removing cigarettes from the CPI as a basis for pay negotiations thereby removing the inflation difficulty.