The Minister for Finance has revealed that VAT won’t be excluded on condoms, whilst the cost of petrol and diesel won’t be equalised despite calls for change on both in next month’s Budget.
Mr Noonan claims a decision to equalise both fuel prices is not feasible as it would be unfair to people who purposely bought diesel cars on the basis that they would be cheaper to fill.
Mr Noonan also denied a request to scrap VAT on condoms, despite his fellow colleague Kate O’Connell claiming a reduced price on the contraceptives would lower the rate of STIs.
The Finance Minister said he doesn’t share the same view, saying: “I doubt very much, for example, if you took contraceptives from thirteen-and-a-half down to nine that it would change behaviour very much and have a big impact on the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, maybe it would but I doubt it you know?”