Taxman scoops €220 million windfall ahead of introduction of plain cigarette packaging

The impending rollout of plain packaging for cigarettes has helped deliver a €220 million tax windfall for the exchequer.

Some tobacco companies are stocking up on branded cigarettes, which will soon be replaced by packets with graphic health warnings once the necessary legislation is passed by the Dáil.

In the first five months of this year, the state has collected almost €500 million in taxes from cigarettes and tobacco products, which is up ...