President’s Report – January 2025

I would like to wish all our members and indeed all those in working in Hospitably a Happy New year. 

I hope your hard work over the Christmas season was fruitful and that you are now in planning for the year ahead. So too are the RAI as we wave goodbye to 2024 and look towards 2025 many of us still face into uncertain future given all the well documented issues facing our industry. As President I will push front and centre your interests so that the RAI have a clear message when discussing with our new incoming Government solutions to provide a fair and long lasting business environment for all food led businesses.

As I have mentioned before I firmly believe that next Government need to include Hospitality within the Department of Tourism as they go hand in hand. This alone would allow the RAI to have a clear point of contact to represent the views of the thousands that work in our Industry. This measure would allow us voice our solutions to growing this sector thus providing more new opening and more employment thus a nett gain to the exchequer.

Our two pressing issues are the reduction of VAT for food led business’s and employer PRSI reductions. These remain the RAI’s key requests for the incoming Government.

Once gain I encourage you all that the real key to truly amplify these issues, is active participation. The age-old adage that there is strength in numbers comes to mind, so it is crucial to engage in a constructive manner with the RAI by attending meetings, sharing your thoughts, supporting campaigns and, perhaps most importantly, encouraging your neighbouring businesses to join. 

I would like to wish Adrian Cummins the best of luck in the upcoming Seanad Elections where if elected on the Industrial and Commercial panel would be a strong advocate for our sector.

I would like to wish you all success for the year ahead.