Who will visit an overpriced nanny state?

I WISH to highlight the Government’s persistent attacks on the good visitors to this country and the consequent devastating effects on the tourism industry. Firstly we have increases in the region of 20% on electricity, fuel, insurance, an 8% rise in wage rates and taxation rising from 12.5% to 13.5%.

We have the licensing restrictions recently introduced by the Minister for Justice. Under-18s were to be banned from licensed premises originally at 7pm but, after some protest, this was changed to 9pm.

What happens to the family eating in the pub who come in at 8.30pm? Do they have to leave with their meal? What happens to the family who are resident guests or did the minister not realise that all hotel property is a licensed area?

If the Government is really concerned about the drinking culture, they should apply the original legislation of not serving under-18s instead of hiding behind so-called better new laws.

Next there is the workplace smoking ban, which is not to be controlled by the gardaí. Who is to enforce it? I can hardly put cameras in the bedroom to monitor my French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch visitors.

I ask our Health Minister to take a trip to Amsterdam to see how EU rules on hygiene in the workplace are observed.

On a recent visit I saw workers in the kitchen smoking and drinking while on duty a practice banned by the EU.

These new regulations are getting so much prominence it has to be an attempt to divert our attention from the crisis in the public health service. The Government did not seek, and does not have, a mandate to implement these regulations, and I would therefore question their legitimacy.

Had the people known that all these extra charges and regulations were to be introduced in the life of this Government, then neither party would have been elected.

Tourism is one of the major contributors to the exchequer. What does this Government do with this money? It gives it away as benchmarking in public service with no commitment to getting value for the 10%-20% increases in wages. I ask the Government to take a long, hard look at their current proposals and how they will affect the economy. If our tourism drops by 20% as a result of the smoking ban, the State coffers will lose between €2 billion and €5 billion.

Why not compromise by allowing an isolated room with automatic ventilation directly to the outside for use by publicans/hotels as a smoking area? Do not just legislate in a kneejerk fashion.

Fionnbar Walsh,

Hare Street,

Blennerville,

Tralee,

Co Kerry.