Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree that we should seek to have a public declaration of the profit margins of every business in the country. That does not have anything to do with good management of fair market practice. We set up obligations under company law, competition law, tax law, planning law and expect companies to comply with them. I take my hat off to people who are profitable and successful. I do not expect them to have to publicise their profitability. We know exactly where that would lead. It would not encourage the creation or promotion of enterprise. It would be an unhealthy direction to take. One sets obligations and applies the rules fairly. That is what we seek to do, to address a very specific problem.