Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senator Alex White called for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to attend the House to debate the differential in prices North and South. She will be attending later for the Industrial Development Bill. This is a worthwhile request. As a former Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, I understand the difficulties being experienced by those in the retail trade in the South. They have to deal with two different territories. One is a market of 60 million in the UK from which retailers in the North can purchase goods at reduced prices. Senator Quinn will be well aware of this. The other problem in the South is the high energy costs compared with those elsewhere.