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

The increased VAT rate on the hospitality sector has left a total of 612 hospitality businesses closed in the past 12 months throughout the country. I acknowledge that in the programme for Government a reduction in the VAT rate is planned for the hospitality sector but for hundreds of cafés, restaurants and hairdressers this will be too little, too late. After much pleading, the Government has accepted that there is a crisis. Will the Government drop the VAT rate from 13.5% to 9% in the upcoming budget? Will this Government, with the full agreement of the House, immediately drop that VAT rate from 13.5% to 9%?

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