Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a linked question to that asked by Deputy Lyons with regard to online versus the high street. Recently, I conducted a small survey of small retail businesses in Galway. One person told me every time someone comes into a particular sports shop, the person will have already checked the prices online and unless it can be at least matched, the shop will not get the business. The person also stated shops pay rates and rent and bring the heart back into villages and that there must be some gain for them and an incentive to remain open because they can also put their businesses online. The person asked whether the retail sector could get the 9% VAT rate which was given to the hotel and service industries as it would keep them open and competitive. Let us face it - online businesses do not have the same costs. Do the witnesses receive this type of feedback and what is their view on it?