Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

Yes, but with Ryanair we can get there easily. This Bill is not about the protection of consumers, it is about letting the market rip. It is an outrageous stroke when this is an area the Minister did not need to tackle. He should be increasing the labour inspectorate with a view to the protection of workers, but that would cost the Department money. Who would see that money spent? One cannot unveil 30 inspectors, they would not stand for it, but that is what the Minister would like to do. I would like more detail on the reasons Statoil is leaving Ireland.

I believe the abolition of the groceries order will ensure we will have loss leaders in the trade. These will be deliberately advertised, something we see every day, but now there will be no holds barred. The corner shop we all knew will exist no longer. We accept the grocery trade has changed dramatically and that it is no longer the trade we knew. The symbol brands have taken the place of the corner shops. They are now a better convenience store. We drop into those stores on our way home when we have forgotten to get something. They provide a large range of commodities and a service to the community, not just to people like me but to people without transport and those who do not need to shop in bulk but who still want good quality food and service. There is no doubt these shops will now disappear, and their demise is being facilitated by the Minister.

I often remind people that few of us get the chance to make a mark or be remembered for something significant. This Minister will be remembered for many significant changes, all bad. It is amazing that someone who showed so much promise and potential cannot get it right. The Minister has gone through three Departments and I wonder which will be the next casualty.

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