asked the Minister for Finance if he will remove forthwith the substantial wine licence charge on guesthouses.

The Finance Act 1980 provided for increases in wine and other liquor licence duties, the levels of which had become seriously out-dated. I will be keeping the new duty levels under review in the light of experience and the Deputy can be assured that I will bear in mind the point raised by him. In the meantime I do not propose to make any changes. The last part of my reply is particularly appropriate.

Bearing in mind the Minister's concern does he accept that there are a number of small guesthouses who will have to give up this licence because of the huge increase in duty?

As I indicated, the matter is being kept under review but I do not think it is having the penal impact the Deputy suggests.

Such people have been in touch with me and stated that there was no point in them renewing the licence because of the small amount of business they were doing, principally in the last 12 months.

Representations made by the Deputy and others will be kept in mind but most of these fees had not been increased for many years and had to be brought up to date.