Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are speaking about signage and our amendment. We are trying to protect our distilleries and our visitor centres. It is the most important thing that this amendment would protect it.

There are distilleries in my constituency including one that is being built in Clonakilty and another being developed in Bandon. People are putting hundreds of thousands of their own money into the business. They are finding it very difficult to start their business and get it up and running. Their intention is to promote drinks that may have been in Ireland long ago and to create employment. We should help them to do that, to sell our drinks abroad and to bring in visitors. We should not put additional obstacles before them.

The gentleman who is building a distillery in Clonakilty took me to the higher end of his building. The Minister may correct me on this. He might not be interested, I do not know. He might have his mind made up on these things.

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