Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
212. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has carried out a cost-benefit analysis for the introduction of tax breaks or other forms of incentives to support local micro-breweries and distilleries; if he will consider such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15106/13]
View answerMy Department has not conducted a cost-benefit analysis on the introduction of tax breaks to support micro-breweries and distilleries. The provision of other types of incentives for this industry would be a matter for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the first instance.
Generally speaking, it is not permitted under EU State Aid rules to have preferential tax regimes for individual sectors of the economy. That said, I am conscious of the need to support the small business sector of the economy given its key role in supporting economic growth and jobs. For that reason, I introduced a ten-point tax reform to support all small businesses in Budget 2013. This plan includes measures such as reforming the three-year corporation tax relief for start-up companies and increasing the cash receipts basis threshold for VAT.
