Ireland’s puritanical attack on smokers

While the UK braces itself for a budget so tight we can already hear the pips squeaking from across the Irish sea, this week saw an Irish budget which was marked more by largesse than any attempt to balance the books.

With an election due either in November or sometime early next year, and a cool, surprise £11 billion burning a hole in the government’s pocket, following the infamous EU judgment forcing Apple to pay more taxes, the government here has predictably decided to spend far and wide.

As it stands, the government plans to spend a tasty £87 billion in 2025, a massive increase on 2024’s £80 billion. But where is all this lovely, lovely money coming from?

Recouped mainly from the Big Tech companies which have made Ireland their European home, corporation tax has contributed almost £25 billion this year and that figure is expected to rise to £30 billion by 2030.