Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

As someone who represents a county that borders Ulster, I also am highly interested in the suggested reduction in excise duties. I am unsure whether it will have the effect of reducing the level of cross-Border shopping. I would prefer to see the Minister calling in the various multinational retailers and inducing them to reduce the prices of goods. When Deputy Gilmore and I visited Northern Ireland last week, we brought up this issue with the First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson. We spoke to people about issues relating to cross-Border shopping, policing and tourism. One subject that arose from discussions with party leaders in the North was a request that the board of NAMA include members from the Northern Ireland community. This issue was covered in this morning' edition of The Irish Times. Mr. Sammy Wilson, Minister for Finance and Personnel in the North, asks for such representation. I note that €5 billion of the NAMA package pertains to property in Northern Ireland where the authorities are concerned that were a fire sale of assets to take place, it would have a drastic impact on the North's economy. This request is fair and could be accommodated without difficulty. I ask the Leader to request the Minister to include a representative from the Northern Ireland business community in the board of NAMA.