Hospitality and arts sector to warn of mass job losses before Covid-19 committee

SME Recovery Ireland is also expected to call for a government bailout of the sector.

Tim Fenn, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation says business will be down almost three quarters on last year.

Hoteliers say they may have to lay off up to 180,000 people because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Representatives will appear before the Oireachtas Covid Committee later, where they will call for VAT to be cut from 13.5% to 5%, along with wage supports and rates cuts.