Professor John Crown, a leading oncologist and Senator, has today called for a 99% tax on the profits of tobacco companies if they go through with their threats of legal action against the State.
Mr. Crown’s comments come a day after JTI Ireland, one of Ireland’s largest tobacco firms, announced that it would launch legal action against the Government if it goes ahead with plans to introduce plans for plain tobacco packaging.
The Senator said that if the matter ends up in court, the Government should consider punitive measures on tobacco companies, like a 99% tax on their profits.
Latest figures on smoking in Ireland reveal that the number smokers here fell by 70,000 last year.