Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I recognise that issues around VAT are deeply complex, but it would be helpful, and something I would support, if that analysis could be brought forward. It might result in the Revenue Commissioners looking at the timeframe if they thought, for example, there was a piece of paper from the Department relating to future policy on this issue. The Minister hears very clearly from across the political divide, as he did during debate on the Finance Bill, that there is an issue and that we would like it to be resolved, although we do understand the complexities.

The second issue is similar and has the same type of solution. I refer to the issue of betting duty, which the Minister has agreed to review as part of the tax strategy group papers. The Minister and his officials will be familiar with the fact that, since the budget, a number of independent bookmakers across the State have closed, which has resulted in a number of job losses. The first payment in respect of the excess duty is due in April. As we have discussed, and I will not rehearse it again, we were told that this measure would put some companies to the wall. An agreed industry proposal is now being examined. I genuinely believe this issue needs to be carved out from the tax strategy group papers because July is too late for that industry. Many of these bookmakers are trading at a loss. Their banks are breathing down their necks and telling them that they cannot continue to make these losses month after month. All they can indicate at the minute is that Government is reviewing this issue as part of the tax strategy group papers. Unless they can indicate at an early stage that there is serious potential for change in legislation in this area, some of them will close. Certainty needs to be brought to this. If there is any way to deal with this issue prior to the tax strategy group papers, which I believe is possible, it should be done. If this could be dealt with in April or May, it would give certainty to some of those bookmakers. While they would still have to incur those losses over 2019, at least they would know that a different scenario might arise in 2020. I encourage the Minister to look at that option.