Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)

I ask the Tánaiste to comment on the value added tax consolidation Bill. The optional use of reduced VAT in certain sectors is one of the actions identified by the economic recovery plan approved by the European Council in December 2008. Following agreement by ECOFIN on 10 March 2009, this took the form of a directive. In light of the Government making a dog's dinner of this matter and the creation of a VAT anomaly on a cross-Border basis, which has been commented on by Fianna Fáil backbenchers as far away as Cork-----

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