Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

At a time when we needed decisive action on VAT, what we got was a token gesture and a reversal of last year's decision. It will not have any impact. The Minister took action on excise duty on drink. Traders are already making the excuse that they have bought in stock and cannot possibly reduce prices to the consumer. I hope the Minister for Finance will stand over his assertion that he will take action against the profit-taking practices in which some traders will engage. That said, the measure is too little, too late.

The travel tax was ignored in the budget. Is the Government being bloody-minded towards Michael O'Leary who proposed that the travel tax be reduced or abolished because he has been a critic of the Government in recent times? West Cork, which I represent, is a wasteland for tourism. I expected the budget to provide a stimulus for tourism by reducing or abolishing the travel tax. Such a stimulus would have delivered many benefits but the tax was ignored. This indicates the Government has taken a bloody-minded approach to Mr. O'Leary's suggestion.

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