Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

On today's Order of Business I raised a hobbyhorse of mine, the need for the Government to address VAT on fuel bills. Last year, the Government took in €233 million in VAT receipts on domestic gas and electricity bills. We pay a VAT rate of 13.5% on our fuel bills, while in the UK and Northern Ireland consumers pay only a 5% rate. While we have no control over oil and other energy commodity prices, we have control of the VAT rate. Consumers are fed up with their rising ESB and gas bills. They are further annoyed at the double whammy from the VAT rate. It must be reduced.