Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask that the Minister speak with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the current crisis in the hospitality sector, especially for the smaller, independent-led cafes, restaurants and pubs that serve food.

Every week, more and more of them are closing their doors permanently. They are being hit by a wave of extra costs including an increase in the VAT rate, wage inflation, increasing supplier costs and their warehoused taxes. There is also additional and increasing pressure in many towns, including in Bundoran and Rosses Point in my own constituency, due to hotel accommodation being used for refugees. The downstream tourism and retail businesses are suffering even more because there are no tourists. A suite of measures needs to be put in place and the Government needs to consider reinstating the 9% VAT rate, a much longer timeline to pay warehoused tax debt and a tailored support package for this sector.

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