Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent developments in Northern Ireland, and if he will make a statement on the matter. Developments in Northern Ireland are such that the British Government has reduced VAT and many of the retailers do not offer the proper euro-sterling exchange rate. These have resulted in a wipe-out of business in many of the retail stores south of the Border.

In the House, the Tánaiste stated that she intended to introduce legislation to protect consumers and regulate price controls. In view of this continuing situation and the fact that the Minister for Finance stated that he had made a mistake in raising the level of VAT, has the Taoiseach considered the implications for small retailers south of the Border of the decision made by the Government to increase VAT rates and the failure of the Tánaiste to introduce the legislation? Hundreds of retail units are now lonely places because no one is going into them. They cannot compete because the playing field is not level. The Government can do something about that and, in the context of Northern Ireland and cross-Border economics, I ask that it would.

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