Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

This goes against what the Minister of State's Government is trying to do about promoting good health. Currently, if I buy fast food, the VAT on the fast food is 13.5%. However, if I want to buy a bottle of cod liver oil after 1 March, if the Minister of State gets his way there will be 23% VAT on it. That does not make sense.

The Minister can gauge opinion in this House, but sometimes it is a bubble. However, a petition on this matter online has been signed by 25,000 people. It is asking that a stop be put on the proposed VAT hike. I am sure that figure will grow over time.

The Minister has four weeks to think about it. He can use his discretion - it has been done before - because this measure does not make any sense. It will have a disproportionate effect on millions of people who use vitamins. I ask him to take guidance from our comments and review this decision.

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