Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Calleary for his acknowledgement of the success of the initiative taken by the Government. We made the decision to reduce the VAT rate in this area within 100 days of coming to office, when were facing an extraordinary financial situation with no flexibility at all. We determined that we would put together a €500 million stimulus package. As we did not want to dissipate that package at the time, we decided to focus the €500 million on the hospitality sector as it could have an immediate impact on job creation. The Deputy is right when he suggests that it has been a success. We now need to focus on many other sectors. It is clear from what is going on at this week's ploughing championships that there is a sense of positivity in the agriculture sector. Other sectors of the economy are also feeling an uplift because of Government policies. There is a certain irony in the Deputy's demand for this initiative to be prolonged now, given that he and his party denounced it at the time.

See this speech in context