Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the National Off-Licence Association, NOffLA, and the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, DIGI, and I thank them for their pre-budget submissions. It seems the role of the multiples in the sale of alcohol in the off-trade has completely distorted the market. I am keen to establish whether there is a way of marrying the health objectives we all share while recognising the financial and budgetary constraints within which the Government must work.

I know many members of Ms Jones's association are struggling despite a shift from the on-trade to the off-trade. Frankly, many in the on-trade are on their knees. Is there some way to address this, perhaps through the licensing system, by revising the level of licence fee paid or by attaching a levy to the multiples? The way in which they are selling alcohol makes it ridiculously cheap. This is having many negative consequences and it should be reviewed. Is there some way of marrying these two issues, perhaps through the licensing system? Am I right in saying that a large multiple only pays the same amount for its licence to sell beer, wine or spirits as a small independent off-licence or a Centra selling wine? I understand they pay €500. Is that correct?