Sir, – Limerick TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice Niall Collins has said luxury and five-star hotels benefiting from a universal VAT rate reduction to 9 per cent would sit “very, very uncomfortably with me”, drawing a critical response from Fine Gael (“Fine Gael irked by Niall Collins’s dismissal of blanket VAT cut for ‘price-gouging’ hospitality sector, July 24th).
Recently, I ordered a glass of Pinot Grigio with my food at an establishment in Kerry.
I was charged a whopping €9 for my little indulgence, while my food came to a reasonable €21.
My bigger surprise though was what looked like a pub serving food when I walked off the street, was, in fact, a hotel.
RM Block
Afterwards, at a traditional old-style pub, not too far away, I asked the bartender how much they charge for a glass of Pinot Grigio? It was €7.20.
Fair play to Niall Collins for highlighting once again the madness of applying universal tax reductions across the board. – Yours, etc,
TOM McELLIGOTT,
Listowel,
Co Kerry.
