Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I understand the issue the Deputy is raising. The costs increased significantly for the sector. I acknowledge that. The data we are getting in is not showing any significant decline in employment, but there could be churn. Some people could be in difficulty while other new businesses are established and opened. We want long-term sustainability for the industry and the hospitality sector. You could have a crowded restaurant but the margins might not be great when it comes to the owner’s bottom line. A lot of hard work goes into this industry and maybe the yield has not been what the hard work would deserve in terms of margins and so on.

We are looking at viability in a number of sectors. More generally in terms of the budget itself, Deputy Collins understands that I cannot announce the budget today as it is not the norm. The Deputy's representations are heard, along with those of his colleagues. Although it applies to both urban and rural Ireland, there is no doubt there are certain counties, particularly given the seasonal nature of rural Ireland and holiday areas, such as west Cork, Kerry and the west of Ireland, where it is a significant issue.

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