asked the Minister for Finance whether he will take steps to exempt books and periodicals from expenditure taxes.
20.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Expenditure Tax Exemptions.
19.
asked the Minister for Finance whether he will take steps to apply a reduced rate of expenditure taxation to newspapers.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. I do not propose at the present time to exempt books and periodicals from expenditure taxes or to reduce the tax on newspapers.
There are a number of related questions. Would it be possible to put supplementaries at the end of the group of questions?
No. The Minister took Questions No. 19 and 20 together.
I should like to ask the Minister if he will reconsider his decision in view of the impact of this tax upon the economy of newspapers, and in view of the undesirability of the situation now created by a recent administrative decision, which is interfering with the free flow of books into this country and having considerable implications for education?
I think the Deputy's second supplementary probably arises more appropriately on a later question. With regard to the first one, the position is that I do not propose at present to exempt books and periodicals from expenditure taxes or, as I have said, to reduce the tax on newspapers. What might happen at a later stage is another matter. At this stage I do not propose to do so.
I am glad that the Minister does not exclude the possibility altogether.
Did the Minister meet a deputation from the newspaper industry which complained about this?
Yes, I did.
Did the Minister give them any grounds for hoping that this tax would be repealed in the very near future?
I do not think I did.