Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I hope our party will enjoin with Senator Cox's motion. I do not want to mislead anyone. While I have not spoken to the Tánaiste yet, I hope I will. We will work out the best way to deal with the Senator's legitimate request, which was seconded by Senator Bannon. I thank Senator Cox for raising the matter.

Senator Bannon, echoed by Senator Ross, sought a debate on the competitive challenge facing Ireland. We will speak on the issue because it developed in an interesting way.

Senator Leyden raised the matter of loss leaders in supermarkets. Senator Mooney, when entering the Chamber, did not know his colleague had raised the matter previously. It was a 12 for 12 offer. I watched the television advertisement and could not believe that so wanton an invitation to destructive behaviour was aired. Senator Moylan raised the issue yesterday, but it was due a second airing because of the idea that someone could haul 24 cans to a field where debauchery and so on would occur and would later perhaps be involved in road accidents.

Pubs are becoming the safe place to have a drink. One can drink in company and in moderation and pub keepers run good houses generally. We have heard much about how rural pubs are being denuded of customers. When one considers what we are willing to put up with in terms of drinks advertising, the pub seems a haven of security and safety for people who want to drink. Senator Leyden used the word "grotesque". I had a vision of groups of 14 year olds and 15 year olds hauling cans away to a park or field——