Mr. Martin Mulligan:

I would like to see below-cost selling banned. The multiples use below-cost selling to attract people and increase the foot-fall in shops. The measure is being used for the wrong reasons. That was not possible prior to the abolition of the groceries order. Multiples are selling at below cost and they are able to reclaim the VAT. They have the full invoice at the high rate and they get the rebate on the below-cost sale. The Exchequer is contributing 23% of the VAT element towards the cost of below-cost selling.