Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I get it in the neck every day of the week from my brother about the current situation between off-licences and pubs. I have always believed that we must look at off-licences and the cost of selling rather than reduce the price on the vintner side. We must put some measures in place and compare the controlled environment of a pub with the uncontrolled environment of an off-licence from a legislative point of view. We must also make sure that below cost selling is not allowed, particularly the ridiculous situation where multiples can reclaim VAT on below cost selling. Something must be done to force up the price of alcohol in off-licences.

How many schools are involved in the training of chefs? What must we do to generate more chefs? With tourist numbers increasing there is an issue with the number of chefs working in the trade.

With regard to the perspective from my county, Kildare is a strange phenomenon in terms of motorways. In Mr. O'Keeffe's situation, people travel to Dublin and he is able to capture tourists as are many pubs, including rural ones. However, all the tourists and tourist buses pass through Kildare but we are working hard to hold on to them. This week Goffs' sales will take place and most of the hotels are fully booked. How actively do the delegations work with local tourism organisations? I refer in particular to counties that are not known as tourist destinations. The Wild Atlantic Way has been a great success. I have promoted canals in Kildare and other counties as a potential source of tourism. How active are the delegations in towns deemed non-tourist counties in terms of becoming more attractive to tourists now and in the future? Tourists are starting to come back and there is great potential for tourism.