Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One of the key issues is that commercial viability is very important, but social responsibility is also very important. For a functioning society we need to ensure that people can have face to face interactions. If we rule out face to face interactions with each other, it will not be a society that anybody wants. There has been some frightening information put out in front of us but it is very important that the message from this committee that goes out to the public is that it is the intention of this committee to build viable and strong vibrant economies regionally and in rural areas.

While there have been certain trends over the last number of years in these aspects, everybody will agree it is our objective to fight those trends and reverse some of them if possible.

I thank the witnesses for coming here today and giving this information. The content of their information will be part of our report. Gabhaim míle buíochas le na finnéithe as teacht inniu. We will probably meet the witnesses again in the lifetime of this Dáil and Seanad. We will suspend to give them a few minutes to leave.

We will suspend for five minutes but I ask members to make sure they return. We have only two other groups coming to the next session. These groups are also very important in the communities we serve. They are the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association and Retail Excellence Ireland. I propose we come back here at exactly 11.55 a.m. Is that agreed? Agreed.