Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

My attitude when I see Aldi and Lidl stores opening in Clifden, and a Tesco store opening in Ballinrobe, is that, in their absence, the people who shop there would instead travel to supermarkets in Galway and other large towns. One can view it either as the multiples coming to the people or the people going to the multiples. The reality is that most people tend to go to the multiples when they have a large quantity of purchases to make. It is a positive development that the large chains are willing to set up in rural areas and create employment. I have an opposite view to that of Deputy Ring in this regard.

See this speech in context