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Leo Varadkar: Splitting Vat rate for restaurants ‘warrants consideration’

Two Fine Gael politicians have joined the chorus demanding a shift in taxation policy for the hospitality sector

The comments reflect a softening on the Taoiseach’s stance, who up to now had been adamant the Vat rate was too complicated to split. Picture: Fergal Phillips

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that splitting the Vat rate to help hospitality firms is “technically possible and warrants consideration”, according to one Fine Gael TD, as government representatives join the chorus demanding a shift in taxation policy for the sector.

The hospitality Vat rate was hiked back up to 13.5 per cent last September from the pandemic era 9 per cent, however there have been calls for the measure to be revisited in the ...