Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the relevant case law from the European Court of Justice. However, it remains a political decision of the Government to put that into legislative effect by including it in the Finance Bill. The measure was not mentioned by the Minister in his Budget Statement. He cannot tell me the exact amount of money involved. I presume it is not a significant amount. For example, the 20% cut to the respite care grant saved the Government €25 million. Would it not be a better use of Exchequer funds to immediately reverse that cut, as people have demanded, rather than giving a VAT exemption for clubs which are, to a large degree, privileged and elitist institutions? Plenty of ordinary people play golf and I do not have a problem with that, but the entrance and annual fees of some clubs are substantial. Newlands Golf Club has an annual fee of almost €1,500, with an entrance fee of €5,000, Clontarf Golf Club has fees of over €1,000 and a joining fee of €5,000, and Dún Laoghaire Golf Club has a joining fee of €16,000. Is giving such clubs a VAT exemption or refund justified?

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