FG pledges to cut hospitality Vat to 11% as Harris woos business with €800m package
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The outgoing Taoiseach will set out to woo businesses with an €800m manifesto package headlined by a permanent hospitality Vat reduction to 11% as he officially got Election 2024 underway.
Today, Friday, Simon Harris ended months of speculation by formally asking President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the Dáil, saying that "the time is now right to ask the Irish people to give a new mandate". He said:
Following a short meeting with President Higgins, Mr Harris departed Áras an Uachtaráin to begin a three-week sprint to polling day on November 29 with canvasses in Castleknock, where he was joined by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and former Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald, and in Lucan.
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During the first canvass, Mr Harris said that the concerns around the hospitality sector, which had sought unsuccessfully a return of the 9% Vat rate for its industry in last month's budget, had "been heard".
"I'm really conscious that this country could see, and the European Union could very much see, a transatlantic trade shock. And we've got to be aware of that.
The can reveal that the plan to be launched on Saturday will see Fine Gael pledge to enact three key initiatives if returned to government.
This would be headlined by reducing the 13.5% Vat rate to 11% for food and catering, entertainment, and hairdressing services on a permanent basis over a span of two years.
The party had sought the lower 9% rate in the budget, but it was felt that this was too low.
Fine Gael will also promise a PRSI rebate for businesses with fewer than 50 staff each year for three years for every worker earning up to €592 per week. This would work out at €6,630 a year for a business employing 10 staff and could be as high as €33,150. The party will also propose a successor to the PowerUp grant scheme which offers €4,000 of direct financial support for businesses.
Fine Gael's coalition partners in Fianna Fáil will also propose a successor to the PowerUp grant and is set to pledge a cut by 1.5% of the employers' PRSI on minimum wage workers.
Mr Harris called for a “safe and respectful campaign for all politicians and all their teams” and urged the Irish people to value their vote and use their voice.
Mr Harris's call came as An Garda Síochána and Coimisiún na Meán launched an information booklet for candidates on how to stay safe online.
An Garda Síochána also updated a safety booklet for candidates who are going canvassing.
"If you are required to canvass alone, ensure someone is aware of where you are canvassing and what time to expect you home at," the guide says.
"Do not leave people behind on doors."
Candidate safety will be in the spotlight for this election following a spate of incidents in the local and European elections in June and a recent alleged assault on Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman.