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THE MINISTER FOR Finance has dismissed suggestions that the VAT rate applied to ice-cream sold by ice-cream parlours should be reduced to the 9 per cent tourism rate.
Currently, VAT of 23 per cent is placed on the sweet treats sold at ice-cream parlours because they fall under the ‘Confectionery and Sugary Foods’ category.
In a recent parliamentary question, Kerry deputy Brendan Griffin argued that the rate could be dropped “in recognition of the labour intensive nature of the business” and ice-cream parlours’ “heavy dependency” on tourism.
As part of a Jobs Initiative, a second reduced VAT rate of 9 per cent came into effect on 1 July 2011. It covers certain goods and services mainly related to tourism, including restaurant and catering services, hotel and holiday accommodation, tickets to performances and cinemas, amusements, sporting facilities, hairdressing services and certain printed matter. Generally welcomed as a successful scheme, there have also been calls for it to be extended past the 31 December 2013 deadline.
Noonan said the proposal to maintain the rate will be considered ahead of the 15 October Budget.
However, in the case of ice-cream, he said the inclusion would lead to pressure to apply a similar reduction to the wider confectionery and sugary foods area which would be costly to the Exchequer.
“I therefore have no plans to change the VAT treatment of ice-cream sold by ice-cream parlours,” he said, pointing out that where ice-cream is provided as part of a meal by a restaurant or other caterer, the entire meal (including the ice-cream) is liable to VAT at the nine per cent reduced VAT rate.
Kerry and Dublin-based ice-cream connoisseurs Murphy’s believe the reduced rate could only be a good thing for businesses, customers and the tourism industry.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Seán Murphy said the reduced rate would bring Ireland’s ice-cream businesses in line with other nations.
“In terms of VAT rates and cost of doing business, we are not on an even playing field,” he explained, noting that the company are looking to expand to European destinations shortly.
“But specifically, in the context of tourism, you have people coming in from every country to every county. Once they get here, we can work on getting them back.
“The thing about ice-cream is that it showcases some of the stuff that is beautiful about this country. Several companies use fresh milk, fresh eggs and other locally-raised produce. The products feature what Ireland does really well. It makes sense to push these. Essentially our business is face-to-face with tourists.”
It’s a NO from me!
“STRIVE TO SUPPORT”
” DURABLE RELATIONSHIP”
Apart from the legal eagles that must love this vague nonsense ( lime a €€ jackpot )there’s nothing in there to say me to the yes side.
A BIG NO/NO from me
@Ken Mc Carthy: ‘sway’ me!!! even
@Ken Mc Carthy: How about ‘lime a €€ jackpot’? Some kind of code?
@Brendan O’Brien: hey hey…. I was waiting on the ‘dyslexia’ mocking— 4 minutes!!! U getting slow
@Ken Mc Carthy: You’re saying you have dyslexia?
@Brendan O’Brien: it doesn’t bother me one iota/ never hindered my career or life— its other small minded idiots that seem to have the problem with it!
@Ken Mc Carthy: I’ll stick to mocking your hero-worship of Trump and such things in future.
What qualifies as durable?
@George Vladisavljevic: no idea but you have to ‘strive to support’ it
@George Vladisavljevic: Well, you could have a durable relationship with your doctor, dog, grocer or your local handyman!
@George Vladisavljevic: Thomas Byrne FF on upfront with Katie Hannon Monday night was asked this in a debate with peader Tobin of Aontu, he hadn’t got a jot and tried bluffing his way through the answer, Tobin ran rings around him.
@Seanie: I was watching that……like seriously……Thomas byrne was the best they could put ‘out to bat’?? Tobin didn’t even have to try very hard…….. byrne scored plenty of own goals
@George Vladisavljevic: the durable bunny
(Vote NO) to this lieing government they have gone rogue deliberately trying to feed misinformation to the Irish people to get a yes vote it NO .and if they try to get it passed a second time it will be NO again.
I think this referendum will very well display that the loud, vocal, right wing commentary as seen in the comments section of the journal are not at all representative of the views of the general population. It’s all, no/no on here but this referendum will easily pass.
Empty can makes most noise!
@Soundy Sound: if it does easily pass I would be very worried for the critical thinking of the nation.
I don’t see it passing but it depends on the profile of the turnout. Unfortunatly we have ppl who will just vote for whatever the govt say without looking at what being asked to vote for.
Your constitution is the last protection against government overreach. Unless you are 100% certain of what the change will cause it should always be a no vote.
When you can’t define durable it opens potential legal chaos for absolutly no reason at all.
Senator Michael McDowell have all spoken very well on this as an ex min for justice and AG he is very well placed to do so. An honest man in my view.
I would urge anyone unsure to look at his 8 page document on it and why it should be No/No.
@Soundy Sound: were you not watching the news last night? no side zero coverage, obviously a governmental ploy.
@Soundy Sound: more likely than not this referendum will pass as its got all government parties pushing it, a quango set up & paid to push it ( electoral commission), media fully behind the government mantra of a ‘yes’ vote & the ( not even) subtle dictat that if we don’t bring in the correct result we’ll have to go again. The legal profession see this as a goldmine for sure but you’re wild accusation of labeling anyone who opposes this being rammed through as the ‘far right’ just once again shows how that term ( far right) has become so diluted & misused as to make it a worthless insult
@R B: I just do with what the govt demand us to do!
@Éanna o Sca: I just do the opposite of what gov demand us to do*
@Ken Mc Carthy: A Trump supporter balking at the term ‘far right’ – LOL etc.
@R B: what critical thinking, a nation of sheep it is.
@Brendan O’Brien: hi Kevin….adults are talking here…. give mommy back her phone
@Soundy Sound: if it does pass don’t bother with the mother’s day card after voting the only mention of her out of the constitution a big NO/NO from me
@R B: Senator McDowell on YouTube also. He’s excellent
Voting no to both
Sinn fein will re run it if they get into government if the Yes vote fails to go through….They reckon they can reword it to sway a Yes vote
@Mark Rooney: well, there’s something to be said for that approach….. the vague makey uppy present wording is wide open to different interpretations & legal challenges. A bit of clarity would go a long way to swaying me over to the government mantra (a ‘yes’ vote)
@Mark Rooney: Sinn Féin are doing their best to not be in government. They are the worst opposition party I have ever seen.
What if your relationship on durex?
have your say