Tuesday, October 09, 2018: NewsBrands Ireland – the representative body for all national newspapers, print and online – welcomes the Budget 2019 announcements for the sector from the Minister for Finance, Mr Paschal Donohoe.

NewsBrands Ireland Chairman, Vincent Crowley said: “We welcome the Minister’s decision to maintain the 9% VAT rate for printed newspapers and also to cut the VAT rate to 9% for digital publications, which will reduce the cost of access to quality, independent Irish journalism for people who access their news online.

“Most European countries apply zero or super-reduced rates to newspapers in recognition of their core societal function.  Hopefully today’s news is a step in the right direction and that next year’s budget will see further progress in this regard,” concluded Mr Crowley.

NewsBrands Ireland will continue its #JournalismMatters campaign to push for policy measures to support independent journalism and bring Ireland’s policies into line with our European counterparts.

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For further information:

Lisa Buckley, Communications and Marketing Manager, NewsBrands Ireland.

M: 087 777 9259

E: lbuckley@newsbrands.ie