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

The hospitality sector in Ireland is under huge pressure. Closures of restaurants, pubs and cafes are happening at an alarming rate as we speak. More than 280 of these businesses have closed in the last number of months and records show that 48 closed in November 2023. I am inundated with businesses throughout west Cork and our country contacting me to tell me they are on the verge of closure with higher supplier costs and the value added tax, VAT, rate increase to 13.5%, which is the third highest hospitality rate in Europe and has taken them over the edge. The Government is talking about making changes to the debt warehouse scheme, but this is another nightmare that these businesses have not even factored in yet. To save these businesses and jobs, which are haemorrhaging this very day, will the Government accept that it got it seriously wrong and revert back to the 9% rate of VAT immediately and announce a rescue package for the thousands of struggling businesses all over the country?

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