Batt O'Keeffe
Question:55 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to seek a postponement of the abolition of the duty free zone in view of the impact it will have on the profitability of our main operators. [6118/95]
Written Answers. - Duty Free Zone.
I understand that the Deputy is referring to duty free sales in the EU. The provisions of Council Directives 91/680/EEC and 92/12/EEC authorise the continuation until 30 June 1999 of duty free shopping facilities for intra-Community travellers. Such duty free sales are, strictly speaking, not in conformity with the operation of the internal market. However, as an exceptional measure, the ECOFIN Council agreed that they could continue until mid 1999 in order to allow the operators involved sufficient time to diversify their activities.