Restaurants on the March

Members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland led a short but noisy march from Mount Street to Leinster House in protest against the high cost of operating their businesses.

They were joined by café owners, hairdressers, publicans and other small enterprise operators.

Speeches outside the Dail focussed on the decision of the Government to retain current VAT rates in the Budget, but Finance Minister Jack Chambers said later that reducing the VAT rate on food service to 9% would cost the Exchequer between €600m and €800m.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said, however, that the Government should examine the cost base of hospitality businesses. Mr Martin said he understood the challenges facing the hospitality sector and small business in retail hospitality.

“They are feeling the pressures, particularly because of increased costs across a range of areas. There are issues there to work on in terms of facilitating a better environment, both on the regulatory front and in terms of cost front for hospitality and energy.”

Paul Lenehan, president of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, told the protesters that the cost of doing business had spiralled out of control and the Government has refused to take meaningful action to address it.

He said firms have been left with no other choice but to come out and protest.

“Restaurateurs, small coffee shop owners and others in the hospitality industry are hard-working people operating in what is currently an incredibly challenging business environment,” said Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the RAI.