Varadkar pushed for 9% Vat rate

Finance Minister Michael Noonan, retained the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality industry after the successful intervention of the Minister for Transport and Tourism, Leo Varadkar, new documents show.

In this month’s budget, Mr Noonan retained the 9% Vat in spite of giving strong indications in the run-up to the budget that he would increase the rate.

The retention of the 9% Vat rate was the subject of strong lobbying from the hospitality industry and new documents released in response to a Freedom of Information request show that Mr Varadkar wrote to Mr Noonan to highlight the merits of retaining the 9% rate.