Mr. Terry Pennington:

I wish to pick up on Senator Feargal Quinn's comment on competition. As a view from somebody who is resident here but operating outside the State on a global basis, the consumer has a second level of competition or competitive pricing in Northern Ireland, given the new regime of excise duties that has been introduced. Certainly it is advantageous from our perspective to trade more with Northern Ireland and to have consumers go and buy our products there. Today one can buy one of our products at about 20% cheaper, if we apply the new duty rates in the Republic of Ireland in Northern Ireland; therefore, the consumer can go and benefit. My choice for the 1,000 families who work in the company with which I work, that we have to support and make sustainable is whether we continue to invest in the Republic of Ireland or whether that investment can be spent better elsewhere. Our sincere hope is that we will spend it in this market in supporting responsible retailing. Competition is good. I agree fully with the Senator on that point, but I fear we are pushing consumers out of the State. Not one cent spent on a bottle of wine or beer in Northern Ireland will be brought into this country.