Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STORMONT IS SPOILING THE HOSPITALITY PARTY
Impasse is costing sector millions
head of Northern Ireland’s publicans’ group said Stormont’s suspension is costing the industry millions of pounds.
Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill compared the collapse of the Assembly to being like “a scene from Father Ted”, before adding it was damaging the potential for growth.
He said the lack of progress in modernising the Liquor Licensing Bill was one of the major contributors to the losses.
The Bill included dealing with Easter opening times reform.
Publicans say being forced to shut or restrict opening is costing up to £16million in sales.
The Republic dealt with the Easter issue this year.
Mr Neill said: “Modern licensing laws won’t result in more alcohol being drunk, it will mean our pubs, restaurants and hotels can offer our customers what they want and hopefully attract people away from home drinking into a controlled environment. With minimum unit pricing of alcohol also remaining an untouched issue, harmful drinking continues to rise.”
Hospitality Ulster, which holds its latest AGM in Belfast today, said tens of millions of pounds are being lost every year because the draft legislation has not been passed by Government.
The annual meeting also comes as it emerged a pub closes in Northern Ireland every four days.
Hotels and restaurants say they are struggling to recruit staff.
The leading industry body has called for “serious focus” on developing the hospitality product.
Mr Neill said latest research shows 6% of the population consumes 44% of alcohol, predominantly at home, which he said has put a “huge strain” on health services.
He added: “Attracting them into a pub would help to counter the negative impacts of home drinking.
“Both the current and future potential of the hospitality sector is being damaged with outdated legislation, crippling business rates, and a lack of access to labour, due to the lack of a functioning government in Northern Ireland.
“It’s like Father Ted, where the intentions are good, but descends into never ending calamity. We have now found ourselves caught up in a farcical episode on repeat.
“It’s the ‘Careful now, down with that sort of thing’ scene but for seven years. “That’s nearly a decade since the Northern Ireland Assembly started the process of modernising our antiquated licensing laws and nothing has happened.
“These losses can now be counted in millions of pounds to the hospitality industry and the Northern Ireland economy.
“Since our last AGM we never thought we would continue to be in this pathetic position.
“We need someone to take the reins and make decisions, whether that is our politicians or civil servants.” He said the “political paralysis” is stopping the industry from growing and developing and called for MLAS to get back to Stormont.