Share
10th October 2018
07:13pm BST
As you'll know from yesterday's budget, there has been an increase in Value Added Tax in the hospitality sector.
The VAT has gone from 9% to 13.5% and it was the subject of a massive row on RTÉ's Liveline on Wednesday.
The argument got so heated that the Offaly café owner - who was on the show - told another caller to "drop dead."
Tom McNamara, owner of the Coffee Club in Tullamore, was accused of upping his prices on the back of the budget increase.
Something which he denied.
Anne, a former regular customer of the café, said to Joe Duffy that McNamara told her that he had in fact risen the prices for this reason.
She said that the price of a stir fry in the place had gone up from €9.99 to €11.99 and was told it was due to the VAT increase.
The increase does not come into play until 1 January but McNamara said that Anne "imagined" the scenario to which she replied:
“I did not imagine what happened. I am not here to put anybody down, but the point here is you told me that the increases were introduced because the VAT rate was increased from 9pc to 13.5pc,” she replied and insisted she was sure it was Mr McNamara that said it to her."
But McNamara was on hand to fight back stating that:
“If this lady imagines that I said such a thing, then let her imagine it and if she wants her €2 back she can have her €2 back. If she doesn’t she can go to hell."
The café owner was called "rude" and a "disgrace" by another caller whom he called a “a pain in the arse” and told to “drop dead”.
You can listen to the full segment here.
READ NEXT:Cult Skincare Brand Could Be Closing Down After The Founder Posts A Bizzare Video Online
