Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader invite the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the House to discuss indigenous business? It was very sad last Friday to hear the announcement of the 500 redundancies in Arnotts, a company that has provided fantastic service in our capital city for many years. Some of the employees had worked for 30 years in Arnotts. This will change the face of shopping in Dublin. It will disturb Moore Street. Boyers will be closed too. In the past six months it has been announced that other landmarks in our capital city such as the Berkeley Court, the Burlington and Jurys Hotel are to go. Do we want our capital city to look the same as every other capital city, with the same high street shopping as other foreign capitals? This issue warrants debate. I accept we must be competitive and that the Arnotts trustees must make money but this issue is not just about money. It is also about the social side of our country.