Publicans insulted by Taoiseach

Publicans say the Taoiseach insulted them yesterday, when he said many of them were making too much money and that their establishments were getting more expensive every day.

Bertie Ahern was responding after the Vintners Federation threatened to withhold VAT payments if the smoking ban went ahead.

But Seamus O'Donoghue of the Vintners Federation says the Taoiseach is out of touch with rural publicans.

He says that some publicans can only open up after 8pm each evening after working another job to supplement their income.