Sinn Féin Election candidate Cllr Joanna Byrne has pledged her party’s support to the small business owners and hospitality sector who have been struggling since the government withdrew their reduced rate of VAT.
“Last week, the government voted against Sinn Féin’s proposal to reduce VAT for the hospitality sector, excluding hotel beds, to 9%. This week Fine Gael are saying they would reduce VAT to 11%. Yet the same party only just passed a Finance Bill that didn’t contain a reduced rate for the sector” Cllr Byrne stated.
“Struggling cafès, hairdressers and restaurants in Louth will not be taken for fools in this election campaign” she said. “Fine Gael’s last-ditch proposal to reduce the rate to 11% is too little too late for small business owners.”
“Small business owners and the hospitality sector need VAT to be cut to 9% and they need that now. 9% is what’s required, that’s what we are hearing from the sector.”
“Sinn Féin have heard these calls clearly, and we have given a commitment that within the first 100 days of government that we will reintroduce the 9% VAT for those businesses that need it in 2025, and give a lifeline to small businesses.”
“Small business owners and the hospitality sector need this support. If I am elected to the Dáil along with my Sinn Féin colleagues in Louth, we will show these businesses what it looks like to have a government on their side.”
