Feargal Quinn (Independent)

It could be a positive step, one that we should consider doing during the coming weeks.

I draw the Leader's attention to something that occurred yesterday. European finance ministers agreed to allow France to reduce the VAT rate on restaurant food to 5.5%. Previously, I stated that reducing the rate of tax can sometimes increase the amount of income. There are examples of this. It seems that the Irish tourism industry is competing with everyone, certainly France. If the French authorities believe that reducing their VAT rate on food will encourage tourism, it is the type of initiative that we should be taking. The change only occurred yesterday, but we should be following suit.

I have never heard of mosquito devices. Having only learned of them this morning, I gather that they can only be heard by younger people. By playing a sound, younger people do not assemble where they are not wanted. A number of retailers in Europe have discovered that a great way of ensuring that young people do not gather in certain areas is to play Barry Manilow or Mozart. As young people cannot stand that music, they move away quickly. I do not understand it, but it is a better idea than mosquito devices.