A Monaghan businessman is urging the public to raise the issue of the universal service charge among other measures introduced by a Fianna Fáil government and maintained by successive Fine Gael and coalition governments in the run up to this general election.
Kevin Redmond raised USC, VAT rates, the minimum wage paid to staff coming from non-EU countries and other issues with the Fianna Fáil Finance Minister Jack Chambers when he visited Andy's Bar in Monaghan Town earlier today. Kevin secured a meeting with Jack Chambers as the minister travels through the north-east region today.
As well as VAT and USC, they discussed minimum wage for kitchen porters which today stands at €30,000 per annum, the effects on small businesses of the government's decision to raise sick pay from three to five days, effective from January 1st. Mr Redmond said he got the impression from the Minister that nothing will change. Now, the restaurant owner says it is up to people to question why, for example the USC which was introduced as a temporary measure following the economic crash of 2008, has not been scrapped:
