Restaurants and hairdressers are facing closure unless the government commits to keeping the 9 per cent VAT rate.
The lower rate was extended until the end of August, but there is speculation it may be increased to 13 and a half per cent after that.
🚨Vat 9
Strong support for retention of the 9% Vat rate for Food Businesses including Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes from @fiannafailparty TDs & Senators at a meeting with the Parliamentary Party and Representatives from Restaurants Association of Ireland and others last evening
— Adrian Cummins 🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@adriancummins) July 13, 2023
The Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Irish Hairdressers Association are joining forces to campaign for its retention.
President of the IHA Lisa Eccles fears many in her industry will have to close.
"The 9 per cent did exist for COVID, but it did actually exist before COVID".
"We had it in place there from 2011 until 2018."
The Irish Hairdressers Federation of Ireland says increasing the rate to 13.5 per cent in September will cripple them.
