Perfect social partner jilted by government

I AM a small hotelier in Killarney who has barely survived foot and mouth, the attack on the Twin Towers, war in Iraq and the SARS virus, not to mention the 20% drop in business due to the international economic downturn.

But the greatest threat of all to my business, and my family’s wellbeing, is from our very own Micheál Martin.

As a Government supporter, I am dismayed at the contempt it is showing for the hospitality industry. We have been battling for our commercial lives for the last five years, despite the Government’s best attempt to regulate us out of business. We employ 215,000 people, collect millions in excise and VAT revenues (for which we are unpaid), ask for no subsidies, no benchmarking awards, minimal grants, and act as perfect social partners. For what?

The proposed smoking ban will do untold damage to the public finances, infuriate hoteliers, publicans and their customers, dismay potential tourists and add greatly to the two unemployment figures.

It seems that we are soon to have undercover police to see if we are drunk or smoking. If we are not careful, the parish priest will soon make a reappearance to make sure that we all behave ourselves and don’t get any romantic notions!

Pat Gill,

Darby Ó Gill’s,

Killarney,

Co Kerry.