Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I have said, there was a review and report in advance of the budget for 2016 and the charities participated in the review. It is my understanding that they were agreeable to not making the change that was contemplated at the time because they had significant refunds and nobody wanted to change. The European Union has put in place an action plan on VAT and it is to report before too long. It contains a proposal to look at VAT rates across the EU for 2017. Since we are so constrained by EU directives, I do not contemplate making major changes this year in VAT for 2017 but I look forward to the EU report to see if it gives the flexibility to allow me to do the things of which the Deputy is talking.

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