Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

My Department officials have engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and the Irish Hotels Federation on this very issue.

On the VAT question I would point out that the reduced VAT rate applies to a wide range of businesses in addition to the hospitality sector, many of which are still trying to rebuild after a very difficult and stressful two years. These include catering, restaurant supply companies, tourist accommodation, cinemas, theatres, museums, historic houses, open farms, amusement parks, certain printed matter, and hairdressing. While no option should be off the table in the context of encouraging price moderation and a strong focus on a good value-for-money proposition into the medium and long term, it is likely that a disapplication of the extension of the reduced VAT rate would damage many hotels around the country. The extension of the VAT reduction is providing an important support to rebuild.

Nonetheless, no potential option should be off the table, as the protection of the value-for-money proposition in Irish tourism is a critical priority for the years ahead. I will be making that very clear at the Hospitality and Tourism Forum, which the Tánaiste and I will be co-chairing next week.

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