Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Independent Group for bringing this important motion before the House. I thank the businesspeople, workers from around the country, who left their businesses yesterday to come to Dublin to outline their concerns. I thank the deputation from Kerry, which was led by Mr. Christie Walsh from Listowel, the chairman of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland. Also part of that deputation were Councillor Liam "Speedy" Nolan, Councillor Niall "Botty" O'Callaghan from the Fáilte Bar in Killarney, Mr. Seán Murphy from Murphy's bar in High Street, Mr. JC O'Shea from O'Shea's bar in High Street, Mr. Jerry Behan from the great Horseshoe Bar and Restaurant in Listowel and all of the others who came up. All of those people are very busy. When they left Kerry yesterday, they came here for a purpose, which was to highlight their disappointment with the Government in respect of the VAT reduction that was not given but should have been. The VAT reduction was going to cost between €700 million and €800 million. I believe we would have got that money back into the State's coffers through the increased business in those places. Rather than people staying at home, they might have gone out. It might have made our businesses more attractive. We need more footfall. One of the speakers yesterday said that a business, whether in hospitality or not, with €1 million in turnover - which is not much of a turnover in any business - is facing €96,000 in extra costs because of the additional charges that have been put on them. We are not doing enough. We should be working harder and doing more for the people in all of these sectors to help local businesses to keep their doors open.

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