Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I join Senator Hannigan concerning his remarks about the great problem of C. difficile in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Our hearts must go out to the families of the two deceased people. As a matter of urgency, we need a debate on hygiene in our hospitals, the auditing of it and of staffing levels and investment. The entire area needs investigation and I appeal to the Leader to set aside time for that. People will interpret that as the Seanad responding to an area of great current need.

I wish to raise a distinct issue with the Leader and the House. As we approach the Christmas season the exodus from this country to the North to shop will take further wings and become greater. It is established that at present approximately 250,000 people shop regularly in the North. That number will be added to and it is a very serious problem. In a report yesterday the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland stated 2,000 rural pubs are set to close within the next ten years. That is an enormous issue with regard to local employment and the social structure of rural Ireland. Some 70% of licensed premises have experienced great reductions in their trade over the past five years. Cross-Border shopping has led to a loss of €400 million in revenue to this State in the past year. In my constituency alone there are approximately 300 licensed premises, many of which are rural. Jobs will be lost there. It is extraordinarily serious.

We pay one of the highest rates of taxation on drink in Europe - nine times the EU average. Along with the weakening of sterling vis-À-vis the euro, this contributes greatly to the exodus of trade and money from this State. Jobs are at stake and revenue is going. Rather than accruing income, the present VAT position is losing income and this needs radical address in the budget. I ask the Leader for a debate on this issue and that we take it very seriously. Jobs are at issue in the entire Border region and the counties immediately below the Border. I know the Leader comes from that area and I ask him to support this issue.