‘1,000 pubs forced to close since 2007’

More than a thousand pubs have closed in Ireland since 2007, with the prospect of additional excise increases likely to further damage the industry, the Joint Oireachtas Committee of Finance heard yesterday.

Drinks Industry Group of Ireland board member Padraig Cribben told the committee that excise increases are harming the tourism industry, putting jobs at risk, and are also punishing the Irish consumer.

“Excise increases in successive budgets have cost these businesses jobs, made our tourism offering less competitive, and punished the hard-pressed Irish consumer,” Mr Cribben said.