Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and look forward to engaging with him in his position as Minister for Finance. I also extend my congratulations to the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on her appointment and look forward to working with her.

I want to establish with the Minister the cost to the Exchequer of extending the reduced 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas bills, and indeed to establish if this is something the Minister is considering in continuing to support those who are finding it very difficult to make ends meet at the moment. We know that many of the once-off measures announced last Septembers are coming to an end. The extension of the 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas bills will assist families over the next period of time.

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