FINE GAEL SENATOR Catherine Noone has called on the government to introduce a levy on smartphones to raise money for suicide prevention measures.
Earlier in the week a report in France encouraged the government to impose a tax on internet-linked devices to help fund the arts. Noone said that a similar tax in Ireland of between one and four per cent on the cost of a device could have a huge impact in terms of resources for suicide prevention.
With some 1.6 million smartphone users in Ireland – a figure expected to rise dramatically in coming years – the tax could certainly raise major funds.
However critics of recent suggestions for similar taxes have argued that the devices are expensive enough as it is and taxes in Ireland have already increased significantly in recent years.
We want to know: Would you support a tax on smartphones and tablets to help fund suicide prevention?
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