Irish Minister for Culture, Patrick O'Donovan, voiced strong opposition to proposed tourist taxes in Dublin and other Irish cities. He argued that adding costs would be detrimental to tourism and that such taxes require government approval and legislation from the Department of Finance.
O'Donovan questioned the practicality of a localized tax, highlighting the potential for tourists to avoid it by staying in neighboring counties. He further emphasized that Ireland already has a graduated tax system and local property taxes, making additional levies unnecessary and potentially harmful.
He also expressed skepticism about the need for such a tax, contrasting his perception of Dublin as a welcoming city with comments from others describing it as dirty.
The Minister also opposed a proposed levy to fund independent productions, citing existing charges like the television license fee and streaming service subscriptions. He believes such a levy would ultimately be passed onto consumers, similar to other existing levies.