asked the Minister for Finance if he will remit the duty on the import of rowing boats for racing purposes.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Rowing Boat Import Duty.
31.
There is no customs duty on the importation of rowing boats for racing purposes, but all types of pleasure craft, including racing boats, are liable to turnover tax and wholesale tax on importation or on sale within the State. I do not propose to remit these taxes, but I am considering the question of the liability of yachts and boats in connection with the proposed introduction of value-added tax.
I am interested only in rowing boats at regattas, not in the luxurious boats the Minister and his colleagues can afford. I am speaking about ordinary rowing boats and there is a tax on these which has made it practically impossible for the ordinary rowing club to import these boats which are not being made in this country. In order to encourage the sport of rowing this tax should be removed not alone from boats but from oars also.
I have nothing further to add to my reply.
The Minister is very helpful. Perhaps his Parliamentary Secretary might be able to do something.