The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) have today launched their Pre-Budget Submission 2017, “Putting Tourism, Hospitality and Food at the Centre of Our Recovery.”
The plan outlines the RAI’s key issues that need to be addressed for the Restaurant and Hospitality sector ahead of Budget 2017.
They have recommended a 9% VAT rate must be retained until 2021 to ensure continued job growth in tourism and hospitality and a freeze in the minimum wage until 2021 in order to preserve the competitiveness of the Restaurant sector.
Furthermore, the Association are calling for €1 Reduction in Excise Duty on a bottle of wine and a 15% reduction in excise duty on beer and spirits.
RAI Chief Executive, Adrian Cummins commented, "The VAT rate is crucial to the survival of restaurants the length and breadth of the country particularly in rural and border counties. Restaurateurs are entrepreneurs; the government needs to be reminded of that."
He added, "When a restaurant opens or expands, they will create several jobs and generate business for the area and their suppliers. Restaurants all over Ireland are relying on the VAT to remain at 9% for the survival of their business."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
