Government TD demands VAT cut for car safety equipment

A Fine Gael backbench TD has called on the Finance Minister to reduce the VAT rate for car safety equipment in December's Budget.

Noel Harrington said that child seats for cars, as well as helmets and boots for motorcyclists, are currently subject to 23% VAT in Ireland - while in the UK, car seats only carry a 5% rate - while helmets are exempt from VAT.

Deputy Harrington said that this raises many questions about our commitment to road safety.

He is calling on both the Transport and Finance Ministers to carry out an examination of all safety equipment to see if the VAT rate on any items could be reduced.