Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to ask the Tánaiste to come to the House to debate the question of food costs, particularly the charging mechanisms of the major supermarket groupings. Last week, a representative of Tesco said it had the highest profits in the world from its Irish outlets. Yesterday, Londis said it had 10% gross profit from its outlets here. All of these profits are made on the backs of Irish consumers. It is of the utmost importance that the Minister shows concern about the escalating costs and profits of all the supermarkets. Many of those supermarket chains make their profits at the expense of small Irish business people who have had to carry the can in the past. When times were bad, many of those gave credit. There is no such thing as credit in the major supermarkets and no recognition of the customer's identity or importance. Will the Tánaiste came before the House and make a decision on what can be done about our label as having the dearest foods in Europe at a time when we can produce so many quality products? The consumer is being completely ripped off.

As we approach the local elections, most local authorities have ceased to operate the disabled person's maintenance grant because of a shortage of funding. Of all the groups and areas where funding is required, this is one that any Government and any Minister with responsibility for the provision of funding for any scheme operated by local authorities cannot allow to stagnate and die. There are thousands of applications waiting from all over the country. Many of the applications for very basic requirements are being denied. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to make funding available.

In view of yesterday's announcements, I ask the Leader if there will be new seating realignments on the other side of the House for voting and identification purposes.