Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Chair. I will be brief. I welcome Mr. Keown and Mr. Smyth and thank them for their assistance. I welcome that the Government is adopting this twin-track approach of trying to influence matters at European level and enact what the public will see as Senator Frances Black's legislation, no matter what we produce at the end of the day. I cannot remember any occasion over the years I have been here when I have had more intensive and passionate lobbying by members of the public on any issue as I have had on this one. They want to see this Bill enacted and they want to see goods and services covered. This is why it was very positive to hear from the Tánaiste that he has an open mind and has no problem with services being included.

I want to ask the witnesses a couple of very specific questions. Given the background work that has been done on all of this - God knows it has been a very long time in gestation - could Mr. Keown tell us what is the value of the goods that we import on an annual basis from the occupied territories?