Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To follow up on that, to retain the VAT rate in order to remain competitive is fair enough for businesses that are not charging those exorbitant rates, but it is hard to justify how the prices I referenced are competitive when they are compared with other European countries. I did not come across one single person that was not outraged when they looked to holiday at home last year, or even go to a concert in Dublin, and saw the prices. They were off the scale. I just cannot see where the tie-in is with being competitive in continuing with the 9% VAT rate for those who are charging those prices. How on earth is that competitive? It just does not register with me at all.