Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle should be a bit more firm with them.

I can understand the Government's reasoning and what it is seeking to achieve with this resolution but it will not be achieved and it is the incorrect mechanism. The difficulty is not the actual cost of a pint or spirits or the aim to encourage tourism or stop the cross-Border shopping rather it is the cost of doing business here. The Taoiseach comes from a small rural town and will know better than anyone that rates and water charges, insurance, electricity and gas prices, PRSI etc. are the issues that needed to be addressed. This would have sent out a much better signal than the terrible signal sent out by this resolution. Far more could have been achieved by addressing the core difficulties which I have outlined.

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