Jobs Committee endorses retention of 9% VAT rate for food and tourism services

Following a meeting with Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland on 17th September, the Committee has written to the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan TD asking him to consider retaining the 9% VAT rate.

Committee Chairman Damien English TD said: “The Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation recently met with Adrian Cummins, CEO, Restaurants Association of Ireland. The Association had sought a meeting with the Committee to discuss the views of its members in relation to the importance of the retention of the 9% VAT rate in creating and maintaining jobs in the tourism and restaurant sector. The Committee was told that since the VAT cut in 2011, employment in the restaurant/tourism sector increased by approximately 9,000 and this growth will continue with an additional 5,000 jobs to be created over the next 18 months if VAT at 9% remains in effect.

“At a meeting of the Joint Committee this week it was agreed to write to Minister Noonan enclosing a transcript of the meeting of the 17th September and requesting that he give consideration to the proposals outlined at the meeting. The Committee endorsed the proposals in relation to the retention of the 9% VAT rate.”

Media enquiries to:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee Membership

Deputies: Dara Calleary (FF), Áine Collins (FG), Michael Conaghan (LAB) Damien English (FG) (Chairman), Tom Fleming (IND), Seán Kyne (FG), Anthony Lawlor (FG), John Lyons (LAB) (Vice-Chairman), Jonathan O’Brien (SF).

Senators: Deirdre Clune (FG), David Cullinane (SF), John Kelly (LAB), Michael Mullins (FG), Feargal Quinn (Ind), Mary White (FF).