Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Budget 2017 included capital gains tax measures. It also included measures in regard to the foreign earnings deduction which will help Irish exporters to diversify their markets. We have extended the special assignee relief programme to assist businesses to relocate key staff to Ireland and have increased the earned income tax credit for self-employed taxpayers to encourage entrepreneurship. As the Deputy will be aware, the VAT rate applicable in the tourism and hospitality sector was reduced to 9% to assist the sectors in maintaining competitiveness in the light of recent currency movements. The sum of €150 million has been provided by way of flexible low cost finance to aid Irish farmers, while we have introduced income averaging in the agriculture sector to help in dealing with the expected volatility in demand. A further €119 million is being provided to boost the development of the agrifood sector. To be fair, the Government did respond in budget 2017 to the concerns expressed. We will continue to respond to the concerns being expressed by exporters.

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