Local Hospitality representatives call for reduced VAT to be introduced before budget

A Sligo restaurant owner has called for the VAT rate for food hospitality to be reduced sooner rather than later.

Anthony Gray made the comments after the Finance Minister told the Dáil yesterday that any decision on a reduced VAT rate for the hospitality sector won't be made until the budget.

The Minister said that he was inclined towards giving food businesses the reduced VAT rate of 9 per cent while anything beyond that needs careful consideration:

Anthony Gray is also a former President of the Restaurant's Association of Ireland.

He is urging the Government not to wait until the Budget to introduce the reduction.