Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting to hear the Mr. Mulholland's point of view. I must admit my own bias, as I have been in the supermarket business all my life. I have listened to him being "anti-supermarket" in almost everything he said. Britain and Ireland have the highest alcohol prices in Europe, to the best of my knowledge. It seems to me that if we are going to encourage competition, we really should be encouraging supermarkets to sell alcohol rather than discouraging that. Mr. Mulholland has advocated a campaign of saying "No," and is almost saying that those who run supermarkets are very nasty people who cut prices, sell below cost, etc. I argue that this is in the interests of the community and the community needs an interest such as that. Competition is very useful and should continue. We love to have pubs, by all means, but they must adjust to compete with supermarkets. The public wants the best value, and that does not just mean price; it is price plus spirit, choice and service. I can go back 50 years to a time when there was not such choice. Supermarkets have done a marvellous job in bringing in that choice. We should encourage them to continue.