Protest to be held at Leinster House over costs faced by shops and restaurants

Businesses from the hospitality and retail sectors will march to Leinster House on Tuesday to highlight the high costs facing small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

Former minister and broadcaster Ivan Yates will speak at the demonstration, organised by the Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

Business owners will march from Mount Street Upper, past the Department of Finance to Leinster House over the lack of support offered to SMEs in Budget 2025.

Business owners have said that soaring energy costs, inflated input costs, added to budget changes such as increases to the minimum wage in January and the introduction of pension auto-enrolment in September 2025, is placing “immense strain” on SMEs, particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors.

Business groups have argued that the ‘Power Up’ grant of €4,000 in the budget averages out as only an extra €77 a week and will not make “any significant dent” in the cost…

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