Giving traditional Irish pubs UNESCO cultural heritage status could give them a voice and protect them into the future.
Nearly 2,000 Irish pubs have shut their doors since 2005 and there are noW calls to protect the old Irish pub by adding them to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.
Ireland has an opportunity to add to the list each year - with traditions like uilleann piping, hurling and harping all added in recent years.
In her latest column for The Irish Times, Una Mullally said there is a "strong case" for the traditional Irish pub to be put forward this year.
On Lunchtime Live Fred Rainert, manager of Johnnie Fox's pub in County Wicklow said he would fully support the idea.
"I believe that we should," he said.
"Johnnie Fox's itself... is very much a believer in the tradition and upholding heritage.
"We fund a lot, we support a lot through our dances, bands and musicians.
"So, we would be very supportive of that and having that status would further enhance it.
"I think it would be good for all rural pubs across Ireland".
File photo of Johnny Fox's Pub in Wicklow. Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ieMr Rainert said he believes such status would give the traditional Irish pub a voice.
"When things are changed, we might be heard better," he said.
"We have the LVA (Licenced Vintners Association) and the IVF (Irish Vintners Federation) etc... but the reality is we've no voice of our own.
"So, if we had some form of status or protection of some sort, I think that would help".
'Part of the culture'
Ciara Cummins from the Strawberry Hall Pub in Dublin said recognised pubs should be established and authentic.
"There are plenty of bars in Ireland that are generational," she said.
"They've been in families for years, they're part of the culture.
"Probably bars that are now popping up, and sometimes they try to even mimic what it is to be a traditional bar.
"It is very hard thing to recreate but the authenticity needs to be there.
"It is what we are famous for, when people talk about Irish heritage and culture, pubs are always mentioned."
'Feeding that culture'
Ms Cummins said traditional Irish music also feeds into Ireland's pub culture and heritage.
"Maybe that would be the kind of support that would be needed; if a bar has music on that can be quite difficult," she said.
"Just say it's a January night and you're putting music on and people can't afford to go out, you're still left to pay the musician.
"But you're still feeding artists of Ireland, you're still feeding that culture.
"Maybe there's something to be done with tax there, where entertainment costs could be offset against tax."
'Often copied and never equalled'
VFI President John Clendennen said the move should be considered at UNESCO's next meeting.
"The Irish pub has been exported to all corners of the world... but it's very much a case of often copied and never quite equalled," he said.
"What we want to do is to highlight what is in our country and to make sure it gets the recognition it deserves.
"We have actually gone as far as submitting an expression of interest to the Department of Arts and Tourism for consideration that they would put this forward at the next meeting of UNESCO," he added.
UNESCO is an agency of the United Nations that promotes international collaboration in education, science and culture.
Ireland has been a UNESCO member since 1961 and several Irish sites and objects have been recognised.
These include Brú na Bóinne in Newgrange and Sceilg Mhichíl - as well as uilleann piping, hurling and Irish harping.
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