Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I cannot accept these amendments, which seek an exemption from structural separation requirements for special tobacconists. The only special tobacconist with which I am familiar is J. J. Fox Limited, opposite Trinity College. The first difficulty is that the proposed new section, despite its length, does not contain a definition as to what constitutes a specialist tobacconist. Although it states that such an individual is a person who sells specialist tobacco and alcohol products, questions still arise as to what are such products and how they differ from products on the shelves of ordinary off-licences or up-market supermarkets. I cannot see the difference.

The extent to which a provision along the lines of the proposed new section is required is not clear. The Department received one submission in respect of a possible future development. Wine is already exempted from the structural separation provisions. It would only be necessary, therefore, to display spirits behind the counter in such specialist outlets and sell them from there.

I do not know whether alcohol is sold at J. J. Fox Limited, opposite Trinity College. Regardless of whether it sells expensive Cuban cigars or cognac I also do not know whether setting establishments of this nature apart would set a good precedent, particularly in the context of what we are trying to achieve, namely, to control the display of alcohol products.