Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We oppose this section, although not in an attempt to have the Minister reverse his decision because it is very clear it is a Government one. We debated this before the resolutions were passed on budget night. This section deals with the increases in alcohol prices, including the additional €1 on a bottle of wine and the other increases. Sinn Féin did not propose that in its alternative budget. We are very mindful of the lobby arguing for an increase in alcohol prices. There are also issues in terms of the minimum pricing of alcohol which are different and where action needs to be taken.

However, this measure is really a dip into people's pockets. Coming from a Border county, I would be very conscious of the additional €1 on a bottle of wine. The Minister will have been very familiar with the drive a number of years ago for cross-Border shopping. While there are different elements to that drive at any point in time, in particular the rate of sterling, one of the surveys done, which has not been disputed, showed that one of the motivation factors which drove people across the Border was the purchase of alcohol. Anyone who stopped in Asda in Strabane or who went to Newry would see people filling up their trolleys with alcohol. It has a bad effect in that if one goes into a shop for one bottle of wine but sees bottles of wine for £3.50, one will buy more than one planned. People are drinking at home and not in the pubs and there is a loss of revenue to the State and so on.

We have had this argument and I have debated the resolutions. I am opposing the section as a marker, as this is not the way we should be proceeding.