Media Coverage – December 2023

Busy Christmas period won’t save hospitality industry – CEO Adrian Cummins

A total of 48 restaurants, cafés and food-led businesses across the country closed in November. The Restaurants Association of Ireland says its latest figures show that the hospitality industry is struggling to function with increased costs and reduced consumer demand. These recent closures add to the 140 food-led hospitality businesses that closed between July and October this year. Adrian Cummins, CEO of the RAI, says the busy Christmas period won’t save the industry.

COVID debt deadline to push hospitality sector to the brink

The Government has been urged to extend the Debt Warehousing Scheme as new figures show more than 5,500 pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses still owe €280m in tax. Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) chief executive Adrian Cummins said the scheme’s expiration next year is ‘the big elephant in the room, economically, for our industry’.

Business groups form coalition to seek action on taxi shortages

A number of organisations in the tourism, hospitality and enterprise sectors – including the Restaurants Association of Ireland – have formed a coalition to seek action to address what they claim is the ongoing impact of a shortage of taxis around the country. The coalition has called for a whole of Government approach to address the issue.

Fears minimum wage could ‘cripple’ some businesses

Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive with The Restaurants Association of Ireland, joined The Last Word to discuss Ireland’s 12% increase in minimum wage, and the possible affect it will have on businesses.