Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail)

I want to raise the challenges facing the pub industry across the country. Last month, figures from the CSO showed that bar sales dropped 10% in the 12 months from March 2024 to March of this year, the largest annual decrease in volume sales of any sector. In the past 20 years, 2,000 pubs across the country have closed their doors. Outside of Dublin, the number of pubs has fallen by 25% in the same period. This represents not only the closure of SMEs and the loss of local jobs but also the closure of community hubs in small towns and villages across our country. It also represents the removal of hosting areas for local communities, gatherings, important life events such as communions and confirmations, table quizzes and fundraisers. The closure of such premises also contributes to the growing loneliness, which impacts rural communities because people no longer have a place to meet.

As Senators are aware, the Irish pub is also an important attraction for tourists. Every survey on tourism shows that pubs are one of the main attractions the country has to offer, with the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin the number one paid visitor attraction here.

As the Vintners Federation of Ireland, VFI, outlined last month, costs are rising rapidly for pubs. The current situation is simply unsustainable, and we are at a point where the Government needs to act to preserve Ireland's pub culture and sustain rural communities. In France, pub numbers plummeted from 200,000 to just 36,000. The French Government is now offering incentives to revive rural bars because it recognises their cultural and economic value. We need that level of foresight in here. Ireland has the second-highest excise duty rate on alcohol in Europe, with taxes accounting for 30% of the price of a pint. That is simply wrong for a sector that has seen such high numbers of closures and must be addressed.

The VFI proposed an excise rebate on draft beers and ciders which would provide support for traditional pubs. Naturally, the latter serve such drinks on draft. It is a targeted measure that would provide a lifeline to thousands of SMEs and would go some way towards addressing taxes that are unjustifiably high. Ahead of budget 2026, this would be worthy of strong consideration on the part of the Government. I would be grateful if the Leader would raise this matter with the relevant Minister and ask him to come before the House.