John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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88. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the increasing popularity of both social and popular media the print media sector in general have been coming under more and more pressure of late as the availability of free news items have adversely affected their trade (details supplied); his further views that this sector have benefitted greatly from the reduced VAT rate of 9% and that it is essential for their survival, particularly the survival of the smaller family run print businesses that this reduced rate remain in place for the forceable future; if he will not increase the VAT rate in the upcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36431/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In July 2011, as part of the Government Jobs Initiative, the 9% reduced VAT rate was introduced and applied to tourism related services, including newspapers. In applying the 9% rate to newspapers, the measure was designed to create additional jobs in the print sector. 

It is not the practice to comment on what measures may or may not be introduced in advance of the Budget.