Government to Contribute to Band Aid Trust

Following the announcement by An Taoiseach today that the Government will make funds available to the Band Aid Trust, equivalent to the VAT receipts on the sales of the new Live Aid DVD and CDs, Conor Lenihan T.D., Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights said:

“I am delighted to confirm that the Government will be able to provide a grant to the Band Aid Trust, equivalent to the amount collected in VAT on the sales of the Live Aid DVD released earlier this week.

While it is not possible to exempt the DVD sales from VAT, an equivalent amount will be made available from the Government’s official development assistance programme, which is administered by Development Cooperation Ireland.

In the case of the earlier Live Aid recordings, a similar arrangement was put in place, and we think it is important and appropriate to do so again now.

It is wonderful to see that, so many years later, the Band Aid Trust continues to generate funds for development work. It is a testimony to the vision and hard work of those involved with the project from the beginning”, Minister Lenihan said.

+++ENDS
10th November 2004
Press Office
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