Rural Independent TD Mattie McGrath is critical of what he calls the Government’s “Tone-Deaf Approach to Key Economic Sectors”.
Deputy McGrath says the critical needs of the tourism and hospitality sector have not been addressed as the Government did not reduce the Vat rate.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland, The Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Irish Hotel Federation are all expressing grave concern for the commercial future of the sector.
Deputy McGrath describes leaving the Vat rate at 13.5 % as “a slap in the face to one of Ireland’s largest indigenous employment sectors accusing the government of being more interested in short-term electoral gains than in supporting long-term economic stability.”
The tourism and hospitality sector employs approximately 270,000 people with approximately 70% of the jobs located in rural Ireland.
The October increase in Carbon tax which was voted through in 2020 is also criticised by Deputy McGrath saying it adds to the financial pressure on businesses, motorists and transport operators already grappling with high energy costs.
Diesel will increase next week by three cents per litre and petrol by two cents per litre.
The TD also rejects the €4,000 business grant announced in the budget as being inadequate in the face of increasing operating costs.
