Mr. Finbarr Filan:

We do recognise this. The 9% VAT rate is crucial. When the rate went from 9% back up to 13.5% the vast majority of businesses absorbed it. It was at the height of the cost-of-living crisis and with any good faith they could not push it back onto consumers so they absorbed it. We have now got to the stage where we have to take it back because we can no longer carry those costs. This is across the entire hospitality sector. My business will benefit because I have a deli. Cinemas will benefit. There is a plethora of people who will benefit from it but it is crucial. We can all see the number of high profile, well-known and well-established restaurants that are closing because of the costs. The 9% rate may not fix all of the problems but it will be a help and it is crucial that it happens.