Sinn Féin calls for all-island VAT harmonisation
Sinn Féin Economic Spokesperson’s Arthur Morgan TD and Mitchel McLaughlin MLA have today made a joint call for the harmonisation of VAT across the island of Ireland. Arthur Morgan TD has also criticised Finance Minister Brian Lenihan for his “skin deep patriotism as it is his Budget that continues to squeeze small retailers out of business along the border by refusing to put in place an interim measure to support small retailers already struggling. In Donegal for example the live register has increased by 58% in the last year alone. Patriotism does not stop at either side of the border.”
Deputy Morgan said:
“The
Irish government’s decision to increase VAT from 21% to 21.5% is a
regressive measure likely to cost families up to €250 next year. This eats
into the budgets of working families struggling to cope with the prospect
increased public service charges and other taxes such as the income levy.
“In addition the increase will have an adverse effect on consumer spending
hitting hard small to medium sized businesses. In recent weeks I have
advocated a 2% reduction in VAT to boost the incomes of low and middle
income earning families and enhance consumer spending.
“However
border county businesses are now facing a double hit following the
government savage budget as they tackle the impact of the British
government’s decision to reduce the rate of VAT across a range of items to
15%.
“With such a disparity between
taxation rates applied in the north and south Sinn Féin’s longstanding
demand for an all Ireland economic framework, which includes the
harmonisation of all taxes, and fiscal incentives is now more relevant than
ever. A first step towards the all Ireland economy would be the
harmonisation of VAT across the island.
“In the interim the Irish government must examine different ways to support small retailers along the border counties in the run up to Christmas.
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA added:
“Whilst
I have welcomed the reduction in VAT by the British Chancellor, I firmly
believe that the economic success of this island is dependent on the
development of the all-Ireland economy. It has never made sense for an
island as small as Ireland to have two economies running in parallel thus in
competition with each other.
“Today consumers and businesses in the six counties are benefiting from the British government’s decision to reduce VAT, while those in the 26 are hit with a further increase. Tomorrow the shoe could be on the other foot if the Irish government decided to reduce its VAT rate to levels below those decided by the British Chancellor of the Exchequer.
“The existence of two tax regimes on this small island is ludicrous and
leads only to a volatile situation of economic distortions across the
island, and indeed adds to the historic border county economic instability
created by partition. While we in the North must continue to seek sufficient
fiscal autonomy to manage the present economic realities, it is obvious
however that the island’s future lies in all Ireland economic agenda.
Both
Sinn Féin Economic Spokespersons concluded by saying:
“The
only progressive way forward for the development of this island’s economic
future is for the process of an all Ireland economic framework to begin.
Today Sinn Féin is calling for the harmonisation of VAT across the island as
an initial step in beginning this process.” ENDS