Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a very real issue and I am delighted it is being discussed. I met with members of the Irish Hotels Federation, IHF, in my county recently. While they prepare monthly accounts, many smaller businesses in the hospitality sector, such as coffee shops and cafés, only prepare annual accounts. It will only be in October they will get the real shock factor. The costs of utility bills are spiralling through the roof. We must do everything possible to ensure, just as we did during the Covid-19 pandemic, that these businesses stay afloat. They are part of the fabric of Ireland, part of the employment sector and significant employers in the economy. Outside of greater Dublin, the tourism and hospitality sector is the greatest employer in the west. Therefore, I ask that everything possible be done in this context in the lead-up to the budget.

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