Budget 2026 (Enterprise, Tourism and Employment): Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2025-10-14
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Dee Ryan (FF), Nominated by the Taoiseach

The Minister is very welcome. I take this opportunity to welcome this very important budget for our country as we move forward into uncharted economic waters. We did say that we were going to place an emphasis on infrastructure, housing and child poverty. In this budget, which we hope is the first of five, we have done precisely that.
In the context of his Department, I congratulate the Minister on the very pro-business budget he brought forward. In particular, I recognise the increase in the research and development tax credit, which is really important, as well as the allocation of €618 million for a national AI office. As we know, the success, resurgence and, indeed, blossoming of our economy in the past decade is down to our ability to attract and retain multinationals. However, and I welcome the Minister's emphasis on this, we must see the support in scaling and development in innovation of our SMEs and our indigenous sector as being the next chapter in our economic future. In that context, I highlight the research and development tax credit and the €618 million for the national AI office today.
With the greatest respect, I differ from my colleague Senator Crowe in his assessment of the 9% VAT cut. I would have preferred to see a more targeted approach to supporting what I recognise as vulnerable businesses within the hospitality sector. However, I do welcome the support for them.
This leads me on to an issue that is coming down the line and that is going to affect a sector comparable with the hospitality and food and beverage sector. I refer to independent retailers and grocers across the country who, come next February, will be facing the introduction of a new licensing fee for tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products. The amount involved will be €1,800 if they are selling both. That is per premises and is regardless of the size of their premises, turnover or footfall. It is a blanket charge of €1,800 and it will be felt far more keenly by those in the independent grocery sector, who, I would argue, are very much the same as the independent coffee shops and restaurant businesses across the country. They are the fabric of our local communities. Just like the coffee shop, the local grocery shop is where we go to pick up the paper or, perhaps for some, to buy a box of cigarettes or a vape. We certainly call in to inquire as to what the latest goings on are in the local community and to learn about and get involved in our own communities.
The Minister was involved in introducing the relevant legislation in 2023. In light of the serious cost-of-doing-business challenges the independent grocers to whom I refer are facing and the competition from multinationals, will he examine the fact that the perhaps unintended consequence of this licensing fee will be that it will drive the sale of tobacco and vapes underground? It will fuel the black market for those products and may be a further nail in the coffin of independent grocers throughout the country. Will the Minister please consider a derogation for those small independent retailers when he is seeking to introduce this license fee next year?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-10-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:13+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-10-14