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New Energy Saving Scheme Announced and Website Revamped

12-May-2009

Call on government to take urgent action to address high business costs.

At its 36th Annual Conference opening in Galway (Tuesday, 12 May), the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), which represents 5,000 publicans throughout the country outside Dublin, will unveil ambitious new plans to help members significantly cut their costs.

The theme of the Conference was ‘Positive Action in Challenging Times' and the VFI called on the government to match its efforts by taking urgent action to reduce the cost of running a business in the country. Otherwise, thousands of jobs will be lost in the pub trade putting increased pressure on the national exchequer in the form of social welfare payments, according to Val Hanley, President of the VFI.

The Conference, which was addressed by leading economist David McWilliams, saw the launch of a unique VFI initiative which aims to save members up to €8,000 each per annum on energy and environmental costs.

TV personality, environmentalist and architect, Duncan Stewart, was on hand to launch the initiative and chaired workshops. As part of the initiative, a comprehensive handbook, Calling Time on Waste: a publican's guidebook to a leaner, greener cost base, has been produced, in collaboration with Monaghan County Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and will be distributed to VFI members throughout the country.

The handbook contains guidelines on how to save money by conserving water, saving energy and preventing waste. It is estimated that the average pub will save €4,000 per annum if the recommendations are followed and it is hoped that up to 4,000 pubs throughout the country will introduce these measures in the coming months.

The VFI have also completely revamped their website, www.vfi.ie, and it was officially launched at Conference. The innovative new offering was developed with the tourist in mind and is part of an overall VFI strategy to position the pub at the heart Ireland's tourism offering.

Mr. Hanley commented: "We all know that small businesses are suffering greatly in the current climate and the difficulties facing the pub trade have been well documented.

"People are growing tired of doom and gloom at this stage, however, and want to hear about solutions and positive action rather than problems and negativity. That is exactly what the VFI is providing with the launch of our new cost cutting initiative and improved online marketing efforts.

"We cannot do it alone, however, and we need the government to work with us. A concerted effort is urgently needed to address the issue of the high cost of running a business in this country. Spiralling water charges, energy costs and commercial rates are simply unsustainable for the majority of small businesses.

"With DIGI forecasting the loss of 9,000 jobs in the drinks industry over the coming year, if the situation does not improve, the cost of inaction will be extremely high.

"We are playing our part and we now call on the government to play theirs", he said.
The VFI are also calling on the government to reconsider the recent VAT increase to 21.5% which has been a disaster for many businesses and is crippling border members, in particular.

Over 250 delegates gathered in the Clayton Hotel to debate the many motions which were brought forward to Conference, including:

• A call to reduce excessively high costs - water charges, commercial rates, energy costs
• A call to halt the sale of cheap alcohol
• A call for VFI to play a stronger role in tourism industry
• A call to reduce the VAT rate of 21.5%
• A call to reduce PRSI level for employers