Creating jobs in uncertain times – keep 9% special VAT rate

Padraig Cribben, VFI Chief Executive, has rejected claims by economist Dan O’Brien that the special VAT rate introduced for the hospitality sector in 2011 has led to profiteering. In a letter to the Sunday Independent Padraig Cribben says “as an incentive to stimulate growth and employment the special VAT rate has been a success and […]

Government target of 50,000 new tourism jobs threatened by dramatic collapse in sterling

The continuing decline in the value of sterling against the euro will have a damaging impact on the Irish economy in the months ahead, particularly in rural Ireland, and will seriously impact the Government’s ability to deliver on 50,000 new tourism jobs, warned Donall O’Keeffe, secretary of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI). The […]

Entertainment key to attracting customers

A new report says Irish people along with tourists favoured bars with a good atmosphere and fun entertainment. The report by Euromonitor International studied the current trends in pubs and cafés in Ireland. With tourism on the rise and lower unemployment levels in the country the pub and café sector has benefited with a boost […]

‘A village without a pub is a dead village’ Billy Keane tells it like it is

A heartfelt opinion piece in the Irish Independent by journalist Billy Keane highlighted the potential impact the new drink-driving bill would have on rural pubs. Billy grew up in his family pub in Listowel, Co Kerry and can relate to the struggle and heartache of running a business during testing times. Although he doesn’t argue […]