Pub owners claim rural trade is down by 25%

According to the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, turnover in the pub industry is down by an average of 25% across rural Ireland.

The association's national executive, which met in Dublin today, has said the smoking ban and the 9pm watershed ban on families in pubs are directly responsible for the loss in earnings.

President of the VFI Seamus O'Donoghue has said the Government must address the huge losses being suffered by the hospitality sector.

“Our members are absolutely devastated with what is going on with our business," he said.