David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would not call it immediate relief. It is a very marginal measure being taken by the Government. As the Minister said, the fee for the licence is €110. Halving it is an insult to a sector that was severely impacted by Covid. It was one of the worst affected sectors, possibly the worst affected, of any business sector during Covid. We are all aware of the range of issues that affect the night-time entertainment sector. The cost of insurance is probably one of the biggest issues and affects all businesses. It is one of the areas where we need to get more serious. The Government should have waived the fee. That is what we called for. To take a half measure that will have a very marginal impact on the overall cost of the business in this sector is insufficient and mean-spirited.

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