A Cavan publican believes Budget 2025 is the worst one for the hospitality sector in living memory.
Hundreds of hospitality workers will protest outside the Dáil later saying their industry is broken and in crisis. They says hundreds of businesses are closing because of financial pressures caused by the higher VAT rate, an increased minimum wage and sick pay. Fergus Murphy is the owner of the Derragarra Inn in Butlersbridge in Cavan. Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show this morning while on his way to Government Buildings, he says appeals for help within the sector are falling on deaf ears, and something drastic must be done.
"It's a case of having to. We really don't want to go but this is a last resort for us to march on Government Buildings. No-one wants to do this but it's just falling on deaf ears. This is the worst budget I think in history for hospitality. I don't say this lightly, they've thrown us under the bus. There's nothing in the budget for us apart from a little bit of rates. The cost of doing business has just skyrocketed. I think everyone has to get together on this and do as much as we can".
