Sinn Féin’s tax proposals would devastate the hospitality industry – O’Donovan

Representatives of the hospitality sector say that Sinn Féin’s tax proposals would cause ‘devastation’ to their industry, says Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan. Deputy O’Donovan was speaking after a session of the Oireachtas Transport and Communications Committee, attended by the Irish Hotels Federation and the Drinks Industry Group Ireland.

“Sinn Féin’s pre-Budget submission proposed an increase on employers’ PSRI, bringing it to 15.75%, a measure that would particularly impact on the hospitality sector. Today at the Oireachtas Transport and Communications Committee I asked representatives of the Irish Hotels Federation and the Drinks Industry Group Ireland about the possible effects of such a proposal. The representatives present said that such a tax increase would cause ‘devastation’ to their industry.

“When people hear the populist rhetoric of Sinn Féin, they need to remember what their policies would actually mean for the normal man and woman on the street. Sinn Féin will raise taxes; it is central to their plan. Their proposed increase on employers’ PRSI would cause massive job losses across the country. The hospitality sector highlighted this in no uncertain terms today.

“Since the launch of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs two years ago, over 80,000 jobs have been created. I don’t want to see this thrown away thanks to Sinn Féin’s fairy-tale economics. It is clear today that employers in the hospitality sector feel the same.”