Ms Alice-Mary Higgins:

We have enumerated many of the reasons in answering these questions. There is not a disconnect with business, and business is absolutely ingrained in the fabric of society. Its customers, workers, the towns and communities, the roads used are generated by the collective project of the State. To suggest that business floats separately from the mutual responsibility is inappropriate.

I appreciate that members will make these arguments and it is important to make them but we must move past the point of making arguments on a case-by-case basis. That is why we need firm legislation that gives the scope for solid, evidence-based clear directives and recommendations from the commission. That is why I urge the committee to put forward solid amendments to ensure the commission is not reliant on having an argument such as the one described again and again but that it has real measures.