Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

In the catering sector, some 23% of jobs have gone. As the review pointed out, these sectors need reform. The rules apply to some hotels but not to others. They are applied to hotels in rural areas, where there is lower footfall and fewer opportunities to do business, yet they do not apply to hotels in the cities of Dublin and Cork. How is this a fair or level playing pitch for people who are creating employment?

The same situation obtains in respect of retail. The rules apply if one is selling groceries like eggs, butter and milk, but they do not apply if one is selling flowers or books. We need a balanced system that allows jobs to be created in a way that is fair. Some of these regulations need to be reformed to be made more responsive to the demand conditions we face if we want to make jobs our priority.

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