Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to contact the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to discuss an issue raised by the Mandate trade union, namely, trading on Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. By opening on these days, the large stores and multiples are acting in an anti-family manner. They should refrain from opening on at least a few days of the year, specifically Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day and Easter Sunday.

There are 365 days in a year. I oppose the growing tendency of the large multiples to open on Sundays, a day on which only small stores used to open. It is an anti-family approach because it is the only day of the week when families can be together.