Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I do not have a safe seat. The Deputy should not put that about. I say that about my former career because I have concerns about this business, not only from my background but also because over the years I have tried to support in my own small way the neighbourhood shop.

Tallaght is now the third largest population centre in the country and is dominated by the Square, which opened 15 years ago and which has attracted more than 130 shops and several department stores. Tallaght is a mixed area. In 1990, when we were preparing for the opening of the Square, many people said the neighbourhood shops would not survive and would close within months. Now, in 2006, the local community in Springfield is served by numerous local shops. There must be a balance in this business.

There are mixed views on this, something we should encourage in a democracy. I hope to attend the briefing on this Bill by executives from RGDATA tomorrow morning because it is important that we listen to what people are saying. We have received correspondence from RGDATA, which does a good job of representing small grocers, and it is concerned about the repercussions of this Bill for the trade and consumers.

The Minister should try to strike a balance. The consumer is important and prices should be controlled. I know of the concerns about competition and prices, we all listen to our constituents talking about them. Deputy Perry made the point that the economy is growing and people are working but there is always a need for the Government to keep an eye on prices and to ensure people get value for money.

I note the provisions in the Bill to prevent unfair trading. Considerable media attention has been paid to this subject and not all of it has been well informed. It is easier to make allegations than to sustain them and there is always an audience for those who play to the gallery. It is good to note that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has been working progressively in the area of unfair trading, updating legislation soon after it is enacted to reflect the rapidly changing circumstances in every sector, not just the grocery trade, in a period of rapid economic development.

I am accused of praising Ministers but I am not afraid to do that. They do their jobs well. Deputy Martin is a good Cork person.

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