asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a memo from the Newspaper Managers Committee concerning the serious effect of the turnover and wholesale taxes on newspapers; and what action he proposes to take on the matter.
47.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Newspapers and Taxation.
46.
asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the combined effect of the turnover tax and the recently increased wholesale tax is to impose an effective burden of almost 14 per cent on the newspapers of this country; whether he is aware that this tax burden is operating to destroy the free press so vital to democratic institutions; and whether he has any remedial action in contemplation for this grave danger.
48.
andMr. Timmins asked the Minister for Finance if he will now consider removing both the turnover tax and wholesale tax in respect of newspapers, both national and provincial, in view of the hardships being imposed on the concerns involved.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 47 and 48 together.
I have received representations recently from the Dublin Newspaper Managers Committee and the Provincial Newspapers Association of Ireland concerning turnover and wholesale taxes and newspapers. I intend to meet these bodies soon for discussions on the matter.
Would the Minister also give consideration to taking the turnover tax off foodstuffs?
That is a separate question.
Is what the newspapers say true: in no country in Europe or in the United States of America have you this type of tax on newspapers?
It is always difficult to make comparisons between countries which have totally different tax structures.