James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very happy and pleased that Mr. Redmond is so supportive of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. A minimum unit cost is a major part of it. The fact that so much attention has been paid to one small element is disappointing when there are such huge gains to be had in respect of ensuring that young people under the age of 18 are not exposed to alcohol. We know that if they are exposed, they will develop problems later in life at a much greater rate than those who were not. Equally, it will allow members of Mr. Redmond's organisation to sell their products in a way that offers a more personalised service. Having said all that, this is about business and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

I accept Mr. Redmond's point on competition. I have asked that we bring the Irish Farmers Association before the committee. Mr. Redmond will be wondering what in the name of God I am on about. Farmers, and particularly those involved in horticulture who produce vegetables, are being nailed every single year by the multiples. Their margins are being cut and cut. We are now at the point where something like 35 farmers are responsible for nearly 70% of our vegetable production. Some of them may employ a couple of hundred people, but there is a real fine expertise in vegetable production and if it is lost, and if the 40 ft lorries stop coming across the Border from the UK, we will rue that day. One thing of which we should be proud and for which we should aim is self-sufficiency. Goddamn it - I hope the Chair will pardon my language - if we cannot have it in food, where will we ever have it?

I think we are all ad idemhere in supporting small and medium enterprise. We also accept the need for multiples, but we need fair play. We understand the power they have over smaller operators and we want to see a level playing pitch. That goes for the big banks as well.