Mr. Ray Doyle:

Yes, we have outlined this to the Department on numerous occasions because this is the glaring hole in the whole proposition. You are going to get significant leakage of potential product being purchased in the North, albeit illegally - it does not matter as it would be impossible to police. Also, approximately €300 million of turnover of this antiparasitic business is spread across over 1,000 licensed merchants in small rural communities and, as I said earlier in my opening submission, in co-op branches. The impact of this from a job loss and a turnover point of view, and on the viability of co-ops, will be felt. We are seeing the post offices and the banks close. The co-ops may be replacing many of these from a social point of view, but they will be undermined when or if this legislation goes through because many stores will not be viable without the sales of antiparasitics.