Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

I refer to the Minister's speech where he said that recent CSO data shows that 44% of cross-Border shoppers buy alcohol. This assumes that 56% do not buy alcohol and it presupposes that some people's motivation for going across the Border is primarily to buy alcohol. I do not think it warrants the measure produced here. There are other ways of tackling the tide or stemming the flow across the Border.

As my colleagues have also mentioned, regarding the cuts in public sector pay, 5% on a salary of €35,000, will reduce the salary by €1,500. How in the name of God will that kind of a reduction allow anybody-----

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