Micheál Martin
Question:106. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance his views on the proposition to increase the value added tax on tourism in Greece; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27065/15]
View answerTuesday, 7 July 2015
Questions (106)
Written answers
Any programme between Greece and its creditors must be based on credible, growth-friendly measures that strike an appropriate balance between fiscal consolidation on the one hand and supporting economic recovery on the other hand.
My primary objective therefore is that, if a programme can be negotiated, there is ownership by the authorities and the measures implemented are as growth-friendly as possible.
In terms of the specific measures I would, of course, support appropriate levels of flexibility, as was the case in the Irish programme. I would be strongly supportive of the view of the Institutions (Commission, ECB and IMF) that measures are required to tackle the underlying problems of weak tax collection and poor levels of tax compliance. This is one of the reasons for the situation that Greece now finds itself in and addressing this structural problem must be part of any solution.