Introducing a sugar tax will not help in the fight against obesity - it will just hit hard-pressed households.

Food and Drink Industry Ireland - which represents the food and beverage sector - is warning the government not to introduce Budget measures that will add to the cost of the weekly household shop.

It says measures like a tax on sugar sweetened beverages - which has been mooted - would only depress consumer demand and damage the prospects for recovery.

FDII Head of Consumer Foods, Shane Dempsey, says it's been shown internationally that a sugar tax is not the right way to fight obesity: