Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I echo Senator Casey's views and support him. I also wish to discuss bars, gastropubs and restaurants. It seems absolutely ridiculous that we cannot leave our counties but the Government expects hotels the length and breadth of the country, including in Galway city and county, to have no supports. It is just not acceptable. The fundamental point is, as we are aware at this stage, that a main course has to be provided, it has to cost in excess of €9 and the preparation and commercial kitchen must be on site. I have no issue with that.I have been contacted by a number of councillors and employers. What I have an issue with is this: in County Galway, along the west coast and right across rural Ireland, there are many bars and restaurants that open seasonally, by which I mean that they open from April until September. As Senator Casey alluded to, their supports have been removed. Something has to change because that is not acceptable. Currently, as we are all aware, the tourists are not there, so the restaurants and bars cannot open. At this time of year, they are under pressure in the context of staff, namely, chefs and senior staff members. For those reasons, the CRSS needs to be revisited. I have contacted the Government, particularly the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and I am hopeful that this will be dealt with as a matter of urgency in the coming weeks.