President’s Report – July 2025

Dear Members,

Welcome to your July newsletter.

We are now well into the tourism season and I hope it has been a busy and successful time for you all. As President of the Restaurants Association, I’ve also had a busy few months and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the role. It’s hard to believe I’m already over seven months into the position.

Last month, we held our strategy day with the Association’s Council members and staff. It was a very productive session where we reflected on the past few months and began planning our next steps. One of our key priorities remains the reinstatement of the 9% VAT rate. This has been promised by Government and we expect it to be delivered in the upcoming Budget.

Another major focus for me during my presidency is the promotion of food tourism in Ireland. Tourists spend approximately 35% of their budgets on food and drink, yet the sector is still under promoted. Our restaurants, cafés and gastropubs are where visitors truly experience the céad míle fáilte. It’s where the Irish welcome comes to life and it’s time this is properly recognised and supported.

In recent weeks, I also met with Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien to raise the ongoing issue of taxi shortages across the country, particularly in rural and tourism dependent areas. This is a growing concern for both the hospitality sector and the wider public and we stressed the urgent need for action to improve transport accessibility, especially during peak times

As always, Adrian Cummins and the entire team at the RAI continue to work tirelessly on your behalf by lobbying for the vital changes our industry needs and ensuring you stay informed every step of the way. Your voice plays a crucial role in this work. I strongly encourage all members to stay actively involved: attend your local branch meetings, stay in touch with the office and help shape the future of our industry. Together, we are stronger and more effective.

I look forward to the second half of the year and to continuing our work alongside Adrian Cummins and the entire team at the RAI as we push forward on our shared priorities.

Wishing you continued success and a prosperous second half of 2025.