Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to come back to the penalties and the €500,000. The directive does not stipulate a minimum or maximum threshold for financial sanctions. Ireland has no minimum, but we do have a maximum. Why was this way to do it chosen? It has been mentioned that it went through Europe. It seems to be rather a light touch and will not act as much of the deterrent especially for larger buyers. In the Minister's opinion will the penalty act as a suitable deterrent for this type of practice?