Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some members might be shocked to discover that there are 4,000 shops in the independent retailers grouping. The problems which have been outlined are common to every one of us. I come from the small town of Ballinasloe in east Galway and could have written Ms Buckley's script for her. It is what I hear from retailers in Ballinasloe on a daily basis. There are three multinationals on the edge of the town with lots of free parking spaces. The town council charges for parking. Retailers are divided in Ballinasloe on the issue of charging for parking. Some feel that while we should ease the price and provide better value to customers, others feel it should not be abolished given what happened where free parking was allowed over the Christmas period. Many people who worked in shops or who were going somewhere else for the day parked their cars along the main streets of the town which meant valuable spaces were not available for the customers who wanted to shop. We must try to get the balance right.

I agree with Ms Buckley that there must be a levelling of the playing field. When we grant planning permission to out-of-town developments in future, we should impose a charge for parking or we should provide for rates which reflect the fact that free parking is offered. That would rebalance matters for retailers who are operating where parking is subject to charges. We do not have clamping. I sympathise with Ms Buckely. Clamping arises in Galway city and is a cause of great concern for people.

I have spoken about the black market at the committee and in the Seanad. We must clamp down on the rogue traders, cigarette smuggling and diesel laundering. Have the witnesses seen in recent times any additional Garda or Customs and Excise activity? Do they see any improvement in the situation in recent months following the great deal of publicity on these issues in the period?

I support the points Ms Buckley makes about the National Lottery Bill 2012. I would like to ensure that margins are protected for retailers through the legislation rather than through the licence. I will support such an approach. All public representatives, particularly those who live in small towns, strongly support RGDATA's campaign. We will certainly push the agenda Ms Buckley has advocated to us every chance we get. I fully support everything she has said.