Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

My question is also directed to the Minister for Finance. It is just as well because the Taoiseach has obviously had to leave. In the context of budget 2019, one of the tax measures that was not provided for in legislation but that seems to have been sneaked in was a 23% rise in the price of food supplements, which is to come into effect on 1 March. This was not done by way of legislative change, whereby Deputies of this House would have been able to deal with it in the Finance Bill. It was done by way of reinterpretation by the Revenue Commissioners.

The practice of zero-rating vitamins, minerals and fish oil supplements has applied since 1972. This is a very significant issue. There are hundreds of thousands of people across the country dependent on taking vitamins as part of their health regime. Such a fundamental change deserves much better consideration than has occurred. Will the Minister for Finance agree to halt the increase and engage with the stakeholders to determine whether some compromise can be arrived at?

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