Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I remember meeting with the Minister, and she is most welcome at any time, in west Cork which is the tourism capital of Ireland as far as I am concerned. We have fantastic hotels. I have met with the sector. It includes such hotels as the Celtic Ross Hotel, Fernhill House Hotel, the Emmet Hotel, the Parkway Hotel, the Schull Harbour Hotel and the Blue Horizon Hotel in Kinsale. The bottom line, according to some people running these hotels, is that their family members are working for free. They are not taking any money now because they are losing and haemorrhaging money very badly. Their biggest worry is keeping the door open and the only way they can do that is if family members work free of charge. This is an unbelievable situation in which they find themselves at this time.

I refer to the 9% and 13% VAT rates that would be a cushion, about which I wanted to ask a question today but it was not accepted. It will be a huge issue if the 9% VAT rate is not retained. We will see closures left, right and centre in west Cork and other areas. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in such a situation as it is happening anyway. I see it myself. When I go back today, I will see restaurants and pubs closed in each of the beautiful towns of west Cork. Something is wrong somewhere. They cannot keep begging for the Government to do something about it. I certainly believe further help is needed in west Cork.

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