Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There are thousands of restaurant owners and small business people outside the Dáil, including pub owners, hotel owners and representatives of the catering industry. This is a vital industry to rural Ireland and it is a slap in the teeth for them that the Government totally turned its back on them and it did not reduce the VAT rate to 9% in the recent budget. I am appealing now, on behalf of the Rural Independent Group, that we have a proper debate on this and that something be done. There are 270,000 people employed in this business, 69% of whom are outside of Dublin. This is a vital part of our rural economy and to our recovery here also in this country. They expected to get some lifeline. Already, 615 restaurants have closed in this year alone, that is, over the past 12 months. I and they cannot imagine this. They are completely flabbergasted that the Government did not give them some sop in the budget to try to keep them alive. They needed a lifeline and they did not get it. We are appealing here now for a debate on this issue and that the Government make some amendments in the Finance Bill. I also object to that Bill being guillotined, as well as the guillotining of the Social Welfare Bill. The Taoiseach is seeking short-term electoral gain rather than securing businesses, many of which are family businesses of second and third generation, which give of their time and provide employment. The employees are also here with the restaurant owners today and this is a very serious situation for rural Ireland.

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