Mr. Noel Kelly:

Within our sector. I can tell the Chairman about the practical experience in my shop. We have four full-time staff and seven part-time staff, which is a total of 11 people. I have made representations to Deputy Heydon about this on occasion. People are inclined to dismiss part-time staff but our part-time staff are secondary school and third level students. When they have been with us for a couple of weeks, I bring them in and sit them down. They are very happy to have some extra pocket money, are less of a drain on their parents and are able to contribute. What I always say is the biggest attribute of working in Kelly's newsagents is they will learn how to work. This is not something they will learn in secondary school or even in third level. They will be taking instruction from supervisors and when they have been with us for a couple of years, they may be working with one other member of staff who is junior to them. They will be handling significant amounts of money. They will be dealing with members of the public, 95% of whom are the salt of the earth, but they will also be dealing with people whose circumstances at home mean they are hard to deal with. These are all things that will stand them in good stead, whether they become a nurse, a bank official, a teacher or whatever. That is the true essence of employment in a small retailer.

I will ask Ms Martyn to address the question on structural separation because it affects her directly.

As I am president and it is a burning issue for many of our members, I am fully up to date with its implications. Three of the committee members mentioned it, so Ms Martyn will deal with it.

The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association, CSNA, represents a broad group of retailers. We represent urban, city, small and large stores. Deputy Cannon and Deputy Danny Healy-Rae would be aware that symbol groups, such as SuperValu, Centra, Spar or the like, are not actual multiples. The stores are mainly family owned stores that avail of a central purchasing and advertising policy. These are all people who come under the committee's umbrella, particularly the rural element. As I said in my opening remarks, the committee is very favourably disposed towards small retailers. Deputy Cannon mentioned car parks, which is very good. The members referred to rates. From 2007 or 2008 private business people were supporting the local authorities with rates. This year Kildare County Council introduced its first increase for a couple of years. We do not avail of any grants. We are self-sufficient, industrious and provide employment. All we ask from the Government is that it does not put obstacles in our way or increase the amount of red tape and regulation we must deal with. We do not have the backroom office staff to deal with all of these matters, unlike the bigger enterprises.

The Chairman asked what grants we would need. If he and his committee could roll back some of the impositions of Government, we would be very grateful. As I said, we are industrious, self-reliant entrepreneurs. That is all we require from the committee. I thank the members for their time.