Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Irish budget

Two bits of fine print. In a move that sees the George Bush commitment to switchgrass as an alternative fuel and raises it, Minister Cowen announced --

First, establishment grants will be introduced for willow and miscanthus where costs of establishment are very high and there is a wait of several years before harvesting can begin.

Note that the latter crop in particular seems to need warmer weather than Ireland currently has, so is the Minister betting on global warming as well as grants?

Second -- In recent years, hotel and tourism bodies have made a strong case to introduce a VAT measure specifically for conferences, which will allow deductibility of accommodation expenses on a ring-fenced basis. I am now bringing in such a measure which should greatly help that sector promote growth in the important conference business and benefit the entire country.

This concession to special-interest pleading is ripe for abuse. How long before someone's wedding is recast as a "conference"?

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