Almost 400 restaurants closed this year but many could have been saved with a Vat cut - Eoghan O'Mara Walsh

Hospitality business leaders will meet the finance minister and public expenditure minister this week to push for a Vat rate cut

The cost increases on SME businesses, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sector, have been unprecedented; labour costs alone have jumped sharply this year and much of the rise is state-induced.

This coming Wednesday tourism and hospitality industry leaders will be meeting Ministers Jack Chambers and Paschal Donohoe in Government buildings. 

The subject of discussion? No surprise there — it is how the sector is going to fare in the upcoming budget on October 1.