Business groups welcome excise cut in Budget

CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins says the excise duty cut is good news for his sector.

CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins says the excise duty cut in yesterday's Budget is good news for his sector.

"It's very much pro-tourism, pro-business, it's starting to see an economic stimulus there in the outline of the Budget," he said.

"We would welcome those initiatives by the Minister and would hope to see new initiatives later on in the new year trying to tackle the area of wage reductions in the joint labour committees.

"But today, our reaction we would see it as more pro-business."

CEO of the Vintners' Association of Ireland Padraig Cribben says the cut in excise duty is a welcome boost for the sector.

"I suppose it will mean a certain boost - but I think the underlying reason for it was to try and stimulate the economy, to stimulate activity here versus the North of Ireland and we welcome the measure," he said.

"We hope that it will lead to better value for the consumer obviously and a welcome boost for our sector."