Irish Hospitality Organisations Call For Additional Hospitality Sector Support

​Several hospitality organisations have told the Oireachtas tourism committee that they want restart grants to meet reopening costs for hospitality sector businesses as well as an extension of the wage subsidy, a waiver of commercial rates for at least another year and a commitment to keep the reduced 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector in place until at least 2025.

---

As reported by rte.ie, representatives of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI), the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) and the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) appeared before the Oireachtas tourism committee on Tuesday March 23 to make the above calls.

RAI Statements
RAI president Adrian Cummins told the committee that half of the RAI's members are facing permanent closure due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and said that restaurants need to know the plans for reopening viably for indoor dining.

Cummins said that only a fifth of restaurants have the capability to operate outdoor services.

LVA Statements
LVA chief executive Donall O'Keeffe asked that the government clarify what circumstances will be necessary for pubs to reopen, such as what percentage of Ireland's population will have to be vaccinated and whether pubs will only be allowed to admit individuals who have been vaccinated.

O'Keeffe also said that there should not be a distinction between pubs that serve food and pubs that do not serve food.

READ THE FULL HOSPITALITY IRELAND ARTICLE