There has been a worrying decline in hospitality employment.

That’s according to the Restaurants Association of Ireland, which represents 3,000 members across restaurants, cafés, gastropubs, and other food-led businesses.

The R.A.I. is pointing to the latest Labour Force Survey figures as proof of the economic case for the Government to bring back the reduced 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) figures released by the Central Statistics Office show that, while the data for the first quarter of 2025 suggested growth, driven largely by part-time jobs, the newly published Q2 figures reveal a clear contraction.

To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Terry O’Connor, Co-owner of Henry’s Bistro in Ennis and Frank Landy, of Sweet N Green.