Labour Party Councillor Billy Cameron has called on Minister for Health Mary Harney to cut the VAT rate on condoms.

Councillor Billy Cameron.

Although the Minister had recently stated that EU regulations prevented the Government from reducing VAT on condoms, she subsequently admitted that VAT on condoms could be cut as low as five per cent.

Cllr Cameron said that cutting VAT on condoms to the minimum rate would be both a practical move in tackling AIDS and a powerful symbolic gesture for World AIDS Day on 1 December.

"HSE statistics tell us that 50 per cent of those infected in Ireland with HIV are women, while generally 50 per cent of infections arise from heterosexual activity, 24 per cent from homosexual activity and a further 18 per cent arises from the use of dirty needles by drug addicts. There are close to 4,500 people in Ireland infected with HIV, mostly young men and women who face an uncertain future. In addition, there have been 337 new cases of HIV reported in Ireland in 2006, and rising, while in the last year alone 397 people in Ireland have died of AIDS related illnesses," he explained.

Cllr Cameron said the Minister was out of touch. He urged her to follow the UK's example and cut the tax from 21 to 5 per cent.

"It is bewildering that an Irish government Minister would choose to scapegoat EU regulations as a cover for domestic inertia on a serious health issue and then have to retract her statement. How is it that a Minister notorious for advocating tax-cutting policies cannot bring herself to do the same in the interest of public health? How is it that she is not aware that the UK cut the VAT rate on condoms, with EU Commission approval, in 2006 from 17.5 per cent to five per cent? How come she is so out of touch with such an important initiative for cutting rates of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases?

"Cutting the VAT rate from its current 21 per cent to the minimum five per cent in the upcoming budget would be a powerful signal to our youth that it is right, proper and wise to use condoms," concluded Cllr Cameron.

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