Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I think this will probably be the last time I speak on the Bill. We should put the matter to a vote at some point. I intend to press the amendment. I was hoping that we would come back after the sos with some new information or some agreement on the issue. The most unfortunate thing is that, as Senator Chambers stated, the pitch that staff in museum or heritage site shops make to tourists will change no matter what.

Brexit talks are due to come to a head in the coming days and weeks. Their outcome is not within our control, as the Minister of State pointed out many times, but we can, at least, ensure the tourism industry is best placed to prosper in whatever new dispensation emerges. This measure simply could not have come at a worse time. I do not accept that more revenue will be raised through the €75 threshold than would result from the increased tourism, spending and economic activity if we leave this at a zero rating. As I stated on Second Stage, when businesses suffer, that sometimes leads to detrimental scenarios. In this case, maintaining the 1 cent threshold is the right investment to make because we cannot pump money into a business that has already folded. I will be pressing the amendment.