THE OUTGOING president of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), Val Hanley, yesterday warned that any more legislation from Government would put more publicans on the scrap heap.
In a hard-hitting address at the end of his two years as president of the federation representing rural publicans, Mr Hanley warned that publicans “may have to get a more militant approach to get Government to wake up to what is happening to our families, our livelihood, our staff and the misery that it is causing our customers the length and breadth of this country”.
Speaking before 300 delegates at Glor Theatre in Ennis at the VFI’s annual general meeting, Mr Hanley said it was disappointing that “the Government continues with legislation on our trade that over the last five years has cost at least 20,000 jobs and 1,500 pub closures”.
He cited the smoking ban without any consultation, the present drink-driving laws and morning-after random breath testing with no rural transport schemes as the legislation contributing to the job losses.
In his first speech as the VFI’s new president Gerry Mellett told delegates: “If the Government continues to enact legislation that forces people out of the controlled and regulated environment of the pub and into the unregulated environment of the home to indulge in drinking patterns, that will eventually lead to serious alcohol abuse.”
Cork city publican Paudie Dineen said: “The pub business at the moment is on its knees. We’re struggling to meet our costs with turnover down 35 per cent across the board.”
Clare publican John Moore said he made four to five trips in his car after work each night bringing his customers home. The operator of Fogarty’s in Crusheen said: “If I don’t do that I won’t have customers. That is the way it is gone now.”
