Vol. 493 No. 3
240 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Finance the steps, if any, he will take to convince the Finance Ministers in Europe to have an in-depth study carried out to assess the damage to jobs by the abolition of duty free in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15638/98]
I refer the Deputy to my comprehensive reply to a similar question in response to a priority question from Deputy Richard Bruton on 10 June. Since that time, the EU Commissioner with particular responsibility for the Internal Market has once again confirmed that the EU Commission is still opposed to any extension of time for intra-European duty free and tax free sales. I also met representatives of the duty free industry last week to co-ordinate strategy with them about our future options in this matter.
