Madam, - I am a small hotelier in Killarney and have barely survived the foot and mouth crisis, the Twin Towers, war in Iraq and the deadly SARS virus, not to mention the 20 per cent drop in business due to the international economic downturn.
But I find the greatest threat of all to my business and my family's well-being is from the greatest Mullah of them all, our very own Micheál Martin.
As a Government supporter I wonder in dismay and disillusionment at the total contempt being shown by this Government for the hospitality industry.
We have been battling for our commercial lives for the last five years despite the government's best attempt to legislate and regulate us out of business.
We employ 215,000 people, collect millions in excise and VAT revenues, ask for no subsidies, no benchmarking awards, minimal grants, and act as perfect social partners - and for what?
The proposed ban will do untold damage to the public finances, infuriate hoteliers, publicans and their customers, dismay potential tourists and add greatly to the government's ever growing list of unemployed persons.
It seems that we are soon to have undercover police to see if we are drunk and smoke police to see if we are smoking - and if we are not careful the parish priest will soon make a reappearance to make sure that we all behave ourselves and don't get any romantic notions! - Yours, etc.,
PAT GILL,
Killarney,
Co Kerry.