Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. It is regrettable that Aldi does not publish its profits. The witnesses also seem to be very sensitive on a lot of issues, which is a pity. Aldi's profits come from the Irish people, who go into its stores. I shop in Aldi but I would be a little bit more reluctant to do so now because it will not publish its profit data. I would like to know what sort of margin Aldi is making from me and my family.

The witnesses have already answered a lot of the questions I wished to pose. My main question is how, in general, Aldi finds the cost base in Ireland, particularly with regard to local authority rates. I am not sure if Aldi rents or purchases the buildings in which it operates. In that context, is it affected by upward-only rent reviews? The suggestion has been made that there is a problem with competition in the market and that a cartel operates in the grocery sector. In general, how does Aldi find the cost of doing business in this country and how could that be improved so that Aldi might be able to offer its products at an even lower price?