Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Hotels, cafés, restaurants and pubs are the main contributors to the tourism industry and they are massively struggling. The decision by the previous Government, supported by Fianna Fáil, to increase the VAT rate from 9% to 13.5% was a significant mistake that damaged many businesses in rural Ireland. Several restaurants, pubs and other facilities in west Cork and elsewhere in rural Ireland closed prior to Covid as a result of the VAT increase. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil had no concept of the damage they were doing to the tourist industry in rural Ireland. They refused to listen. The damage will take a long time to reverse. Will the 13.5% VAT rate on tourism be reduced to zero? If that is not possible, will it at least be reduced to 5%? Similarly, the 23% VAT rate on alcohol should be reduced to 5% to provide a lifeline for struggling pubs and the tourism industry. That must be done immediately.

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