Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As other speakers have pointed out, this section is out of synch with the rest of the Bill. I read the explanatory memorandum to the Bill and it states that the threshold for third-country residents to qualify for the scheme is €175. That has not been updated. We need an explanation of where the Government is coming from with this provision. As colleagues have noted, the retail sector is on its knees. Instead of discouraging people from spending, we should be encouraging them to spend more. We are facing into uncertain times with Brexit and, as such, we should be trying to encourage more people to travel to Ireland in a safe manner post Covid. This provision will discourage people from spending when they get here. Instead, we should be encouraging every tourist who comes to Ireland, particularly next year, to spend more.

I do not understand the logic and thinking behind the section. I join previous speakers in asking the Minister of State to think again. The section does not add to the Bill but takes way from it. A large number of Opposition Members have called on the Minister of State to reconsider what is proposed. Even at this late hour, I ask him to go back to his officials and look at it again. Reference was made to the fear that there could be widespread abuse of the scheme. There is nothing stopping us from introducing legislation to address that. At this stage, looking to next year and the difficulties the sector is going to face, common sense would suggest that the Minister of State should withdraw this provision.

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