asked the Minister for Finance if he has yet made a decision with regard to the application for the removal of the 5 per cent. levy placed on newsprint.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duty on Newsprint.
27.
The 5 per cent. ad valorem customs duty on newsprint is a revenue duty and the representations received for the removal of this duty fall to be considered on the occasion of the next annual Budget.
28.
asked the Minister for Finance (a) when he first received from the Institute of Journalists a resolution asking him to reconsider his decision refusing to abolish the 5 per cent. duty on newsprint in view of the threat to the newspaper industry and the consequent effect on the employment of Irish journalists; (b) when a reply, if any, other than an acknowledgment, issued to these representations; and (c) whether he is prepared to reconsider his decision in the light of these and other representations made on behalf of the national and other newspapers concerned.
A resolution as referred to by the Deputy was received by me on the 16th June last and was acknowledged on the same day.
In reply to a letter dated 17th November the institute were informed on the next day that, as the matter which had been raised in the resolution was a budgetary one, the terms of the resolution had been noted for consideration when next year's Budget came to be prepared. The reply also pointed out that the institute's earlier communication merely called attention to the resolution and for that reason an acknowledgment only was sent, as is customary.
As to the last part of the Deputy's question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I have given to the institute.
Would the Minister say why he made this a revenue duty?
In order to bring in some money.