Pub closures a further decline of rural life – Carey
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has said that pub closures are further evidence of a decline of rural life in many areas, including County Clare.
Deputy Carey drew attention to the fact that 36 pubs closed in County Clare in the past year, resulting in hundreds of job losses.
These pub closures coincide with a time when alcohol is for sale far cheaper in supermarkets and off licences than at any other time in the history of the State.
It is estimated that 10,000 jobs have been lost in the pub sector in the recent three years, and were this to occur in any other industry, then action would be taken.
Deputy Carey said:
“We had severe problem in the motor industry and I and other campaigned for the roll-out and retention of the car scrappage deal to stem job losses and help the industry grow.
The pub industry is facing huge challenges in this county presently. We know that hundreds of jobs have been lost in County Clare, with the closure of 36 bars in the past year alone. While changing demographics and economic power of customers has undoubtedly impacted on these figures, the main reasons so many bars are closing is because people can buy alcohol at unreasonably cheap prices in supermarkets and off licenses.
The pub holds a unique place within Irish culture. I am a firm believe in the conscientious publican as a ging County Clare.
Deputy Carey drew attention to the fact that 36 pubs closed in County Clare in the past year, resulting in hundreds of job losses.
These pub closures coincide with a time when alcohol is for sale far cheaper in supermarkets and off licences than at any other time in the history of the State.
It is estimated that 10,000 jobs have been lost in the pub sector in the recent three years, and were this to occur in any other industry, then action would be taken.
Deputy Carey said:
“We had severe problem in the motor industry and I and other campaigned for the roll-out and retention of the car scrappage deal to stem job losses and help the industry grow.
The pub industry is facing huge challenges in this county presently. We know that hundreds of jobs have been lost in County Clare, with the closure of 36 bars in the past year alone. While changing demographics and economic power of customers has undoubtedly impacted on these figures, the main reasons so many bars are closing is because people can buy alcohol at unreasonably cheap prices in supermarkets and off licenses.
The pub holds a unique place within Irish culture. I am a firm believe in the conscientious publican as a good dispenser of alcohol within tight legal age qualifying regulations. The problem we have now is that you can buy a bottle or can of beer cheaper than a litre of milk of bottle of water and that is killing the pub trade.
Many both within the health sector and the publicans themselves have be