The list of things I've missed since Covid restrictions were introduced is quite small but I do miss my trips to Ireland.
I've been a regular visitor since 2004, mostly on business, occasionally on holiday.
Since the launch of Forest Ireland in 2010 I've visited Dublin or Cork three or four times a year and enjoyed some wonderful evenings with colleagues and friends which I shall write about another time.
This year I've not been once, despite the fact that it's Forest Ireland's tenth anniversary and pre-Covid I was planning to organise an event to mark (if not celebrate) that milestone.
Nothing can happen now because if you think the UK government's response to the coronavirus has been strict, in Ireland they've taken it to the next level (literally).
Officially 'wet' pubs have been closed since before lockdown and prior to this week most of the country was on Level 2 restrictions, with Dublin at Level 3.
Yesterday Taoiseach Micheál Martin – the man who as health minister introduced the smoking ban in 2004 – confirmed that Level 3 restrictions would be extended to the whole country, starting today.
It could have been worse though because on Sunday public health officials advocated the highest level of restrictions (Level 5) which is not far short of the lockdown that was imposed in April and May, although schools would be exempt.
Meanwhile, while all that is going on, finance minister Paschal Donohue is putting the finishing touches to his next Budget which he will announce on October 13.
As usual this will go unreported in the UK but I shall be keeping an eye on it for several reasons.
The main reason of course is tobacco duty. Ireland and and UK have being playing leapfrog on this issue for a number of years because governments on both sides of the Irish Sea appear to enjoy the kudos that comes with having the highest tobacco taxes in Europe.
This week, in its pre-Budget submission, the Irish Heart Foundation demanded that the Irish government increase the cost of tobacco every year for the next five years so that, by 2025 (the year the country is supposed to be 'smoke free'), a pack of 20 cigarettes will cost €20, a 50 per cent increase on its current price.
How much ice this will cut with Donohoe remains to be seen. In February it was reported that:
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe warned department colleagues they would be “kidding themselves” if they thought increasing tax on cigarettes would bring in more money.
And that is the problem. Most finance ministers (and chancellors of the exchequer) understand the reality but such is the pressure from public health lobbyists to increase the tax on tobacco they invariably succumb.
Not satisfied with punishing smokers, the Irish Heart Foundation has also called for a new excise tax on e-cigarette liquid which, it is estimated, 'would add 10-25 per cent to the price of e-cigarettes'.
The Times (Ireland edition) has the story here – Calls for new tax on e-cigarettes. It's behind paywall but it includes this response from Forest Ireland's John Mallon who said:
“Increasing the cost of cigarettes disproportionately hurts those on low incomes.
“The tax on tobacco is already at punitive levels in Ireland. This is no time to further punish adults who enjoy smoking and don’t want to quit.
“Introducing a tax on e-cigarette liquid makes even less sense. Over 200,000 people vape in Ireland. E-cigarettes have helped many of them quit smoking completely.
“Increasing the cost of vaping may discourage thousands more from switching to a reduced risk product that may improve their health.”
This morning, in the wake of that report, John was on Newstalk, Ireland's leading independent radio station, with Chris Macey of the IHF.
Countering the argument that e-cigaretes are a gateway to smoking, John pointed out that:
"I am actually one of the 200,000 people in Ireland who had smoked all his life and has quit using an e-cigarette.
Tomorrow we are publishing the results of a poll commissioned by Forest Ireland from iReach, a market research company, that is relevant to the Budget.
The press release has already gone out – and John has recorded his first interview – but it's embargoed until midnight so I can't say any more.
I suspect the poll may struggle to compete with all the Covid-19 stuff but it's another reason why I shall be monitoring Ireland's press and broadcast media.
Watch this space.