Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)

A pint in a pub is a healthier pint. There is a social dimension and, crucially, there is a referee. Government policy over recent years has hurt rural pubs. An average of 150 pubs close every year. Over the last 20 years, 2,000 pubs have closed. I raise the issue of excise duty and various different taxes. A third of the cost of a pint goes on excise duty. It is the second highest in Europe and it is hammering rural pubs. Rural pubs are the centre of our communities. They are not just local businesses. They are the heart of where fundraising happens and the focal point or pivot point of our communities. I know of a local public who dispensed eye drops for a local bachelor for many years until he died. That is what the rural pub in Ireland is. The VFI is seeking a modest 40% rebate on excise duty. I ask the Taoiseach to engage with the federation and to reduce the cost of excise duty to protect rural pubs.

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