Commitment to 9% VAT commended

The ‘Support Your Local’ campaign has welcomed comments by the Minister for Finance Mr Michael Noonan to the effect that he has no plans to change the 9% VAT rate in the next Budget.

“The government is to be commended on this initiative and its commitment to keeping it in place in the next budget: a VAT rate of 9% ensures that our social and tourist infrastructure can compete with international competitors,” commented ‘Support Your Local’ Campaign Manager Bart Storan, “The success of VAT9 highlights the important and positive impact of such measures.

“The hospitality industry is the hub of the local community – the Irish pub at the focal point of every town across the country and the wider impact of investing in the sector reverberates around every village, town and city in the country.”

The ‘Support Your Local…’ campaign is supported and funded by pubs, restaurants, hotels, independent off-licences as well as  drinks manufacturers and suppliers.

It works to highlight the significant financial and social contribution made by the Irish drinks and hospitality industry: employing 92,000 people in every corner of Ireland, buying €1.1 billion-worth of Irish inputs and offering a unique hospitality experience, renowned internationally, in the pubs of Ireland.