Tax Credits
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-25
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Eileen Lynch (FG), Agricultural Panel

I note the content of the reply and there are a few things I will respond to. This proposal from the VFI is compliant with the alcohol structures directive. Obviously, there is a question to be answered in terms of state aid but I would be confident that, given the role of the pub in rural society, the proposal does not fall under the state aid provision and would not interference through state aid. The Minister of State's reply does not specify whether it is.
I take the Minister of State's point on excise. We have seen a reduction in excise and, as a proportion of the price of a pint, it has fallen over time, but the cost pressures facing pubs have not.
Electricity costs have increased by 17% over the last five years. Wage costs have increased by 40%. Water tariffs increased by 30% in 2024 and a further 10% this year. Pubs are facing a barrage of ongoing costs. If we want them to remain open as rural hubs in our communities, we have to give them the support they need. Many pubs around the country are pretty much just providing a community service at this point. The proprietors are not making any profit out of it, but they are providing a community service. If we continue on this current path, many of the pubs we are talking about today simply will not be open by the end of this year. For that reason, I urge the Minister of State to bring forward this proposal.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-25/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-25