Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty, has said that Fine Gael’s half-baked VAT proposals are too little, too late.

He said that Sinn Féin has heard very clearly the calls from the hospitality sector, including the 600 restaurants that were forced to close since the Fine Gael government withdrew their reduced rate of VAT.

He described as ‘laughable’ Fine Gael’s ‘rushed back-of-the envelope attempt to cover their tracks’ having only last week rejected Sinn Féin’s proposal to reduce VAT for the hospitality sector – excluding hotels – to 9%.

He added that the sector is crying out for support and that Sinn Féin is the party to provide it, and is committed to reintroducing the 9% VAT for those businesses that need it in 2025.

Pearse Doherty said:

“This is extraordinary. Just last week, Fine Gael rejected Sinn Féin’s proposal to reduce VAT for the hospitality sector, excluding hotel beds, to 9%.

“Fine Gael last week passed the finance bill that did not contain a reduced VAT rate for the sector.

“Struggling small businesses and workers will not be taken for fools by Fine Gael during this election campaign.

“They will see right through Fine Gael’s laughable last-ditch proposals for what they are – half-baked and too little, too late.

“Fine Gael cannot be taken seriously when it comes to supporting struggling businesses such as restaurants, cafés and hairdressers.

“Fine Gael have been in government for 14 years, have messed things up for small businesses, and this is nothing but a rushed back-of-the envelope attempt to cover their tracks.

“Now they are coming forward with a half-baked measure that the sector has been very clear in telling them will not go far enough.

“Fine Gael in government withdrew the reduced rate of VAT from the entire hospitality sector.

“While the thriving hotel industry clearly did not require this support, it was so very badly needed by other businesses such as cafes, restaurants and hairdressers.

“We have three weeks to change government.

“A Sinn Féin government would reintroduce the 9% VAT for those businesses that need it in 2025. We have allocated over €600m for this purpose in our manifesto.

“As the last five years have shown, the pressures on businesses can fluctuate severely.

“Sinn Féin has heard very clearly the calls from the hospitality sector, including the 600 restaurants that were forced to close since the Fine Gael government withdrew their reduced rate of VAT and that is why half measures simply are not enough.

“Small business owners and the hospitality sector need VAT to be cut to 9% and they need that now.”