Ms Evelyn Jones:

I have looked at this quite carefully. Up to about three years ago our licence renewal cost €750 per annum - that is, €250 each for beer, spirits and wine licences. The idea has been mooted that somehow the licence fee could be related to turnover or floor space.

I have analysed the matter and tried to come up with a licence fee that reflects the volumes sold by the larger multiples. To be honest, I found it very difficult, based on the volumes that they achieve, to come up with any meaningful fee that would have an impact on the way they sell alcohol.