Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

Section 10(2) of the Bill states:

This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister appoints by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision. Different days may be so appointed for different purposes or provisions.

On the day of the budget the Minister for Finance clearly stated that he wanted the drinks companies to reduce the price of drink and the wholesalers took him at his word. Some of the wholesalers are also manufacturers and they employ a considerable amount of people. Among the largest wholesalers are Britvic, Gleeson's and Comans. There are approximately 30 wholesalers in the country, including Stephen Walsh in Westport. Many of these wholesalers are under enormous pressure, going to banks to try to keep their overdrafts in place. In some cases their overdrafts have been reduced or halved. Britvic employs 800 people in Newcastle.