Restaurants Association of Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Marian Harkin (Minister of State), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Intent: To get a meeting with the Minister to discuss the difficulties surrounding taking on chef apprentices.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Niall Cody (Chairman), The Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Intent: To find out which is the correct VAT rate top apply to certain goods.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Brian Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; James O'Connor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Rose Conway-Walsh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Tony McCormack (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Nicholas Gogarty (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; George Lawlor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aubrey McCarthy (Senator), Seanad; Ollie Crowe (Senator), Seanad; Linda Nelson Murray (Senator), Seanad

Intent: Meeting with the committee to discuss the cost of doing business.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: John Paul O'Shea (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Cooney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brian Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; William Aird (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Maxwell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Keira Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paraic Brady (Senator), Seanad; Mark Duffy (Senator), Seanad; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Gareth Scahill (Senator), Seanad

Intent: Meeting members to discuss the hospitality sector, especially the 9% VAT rate and the impact it will have on food-led businesses and its implentation. Also, discussed were a range of issues impacting businesses which included work permits, cumulative cost increases, labour costs, energy costs and apprenticeships. The benefits of the 9% VAT rate were discussed in depth. It was sought to achieve an understanding of the sector and issues that it continues to face at outlined above.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Peter 'Chap' Cleere (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ryan O'Meara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Update members on the hospitality sector, the impacts VAT 9 will have and the cost of doing business especially the cost of labour and energy. Also, the importance of Culinary Tourism to Ireland's tourism offering. It was sought to see the cost of doing business reduced by cutting red tape and the cumulative costs.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Ray McAdam (Councillor), Dublin City Council

Intent: Meeting regarding issues facing the hospitality sector in Dublin

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Tom James (Assistant Secretary), The Office of the Revenue Commissioners; Emily Swift (Assistant Secretaries or Equivalent Grades), The Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Intent: To receive an extension to the 30th of January deadline

Methods: Virtual Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development

Intent: As part of the Taxis for Ireland coalition, met with Minister of State Jerry Buttimer regarding taxi supply in Ireland

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Nessa Cosgrove (Senator), Seanad; Shane Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: As part of the Taxis for Ireland coalition, met with Oireachtas Members advocating for measures to increase the supply of taxis in Ireland.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: Along with other hospitality and tourism representative bodies, the RAI met the Minister in advance of Budget 2026 to relay the arguments for the 9% VAT rate amongst other issues.

Methods: Meeting