Publicans hail VAT reduction

Rural publicans welcomed the reduction in VAT from 21 per cent to 20 per cent. Vintners' Federation of Ireland president Mr Richard Dunne said: "With over 60 per cent of publicans having an annual turnover of less than £150,000 and one in five turning over less than £25,000 per annum, any policy that can ease their financial hardship is very welcome."