Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Michael Healy-Rae gave a very impressive précis of the rural economy and what keeps it going. He knows it well; there is no question about that. Impact assessments make those who make the decisions aware of what the impact might be, be it good, bad or otherwise. An extra burden will never help anybody in business, in any event. We realise, appreciate and accept that there is a need to obtain revenue through taxation but we should recall when it ceased to achieve what was intended. In other words, the burden was so great that it was an obstacle, meaning many people fell by the wayside.

I agree the tourism sector is important. Like my colleague, I encounter it weekly. I notice two things in the pub sector. Some pubs that were having difficulty before the lockdowns have recovered very well. They have changed their business slightly, including by making some changes that have attracted the public. Attracting the customer is very important, now more than ever. For others, it has been quite difficult. There are pubs closing down, which is sad to see. To see it happening all over rural Ireland is not something we are happy about. I hasten to add that the Government is still watching to see what might arise in order to ensure our economy remains strong, competitive and active. That is very important. The Minister has said this, and it will rightly continue.

Let me be so bold as to offer some information. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae will counter it by saying the costs prevent what I propose. A pub that is closed and opens only for the last hour or two, be it in a rural or urban area, does not really attract customers. I was on holiday down the country during the summer and noted several busloads of tourists arriving at a pub that was shut. There was a sign at the side stating it opened at 5.30 p.m., 6.30 p.m. or 7 p.m. but the tourists were not interested in that. They wanted to be entertained when available and ready to spend their money. Let me be so bold as to give a hint: the hospitality businesses, entertainment sector and pub sector need to be available for longer to catch the customers such that the customers will be able to have a worthwhile experience and say they want to go back.