Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

There has been considerable investment in the existing centres - €100 million of State funds and personnel - and that is investment worth protecting. I appeal, therefore, to the Minister to consider this amendment on the basis that we should provide statutory protection for them. Access to the market should not be below the level of existing centre, in other words, a smaller unit. While the position may change, it should not change to such a degree as to weaken the existing centres or make it possible to gain access to the market below that level. I will come back to this issue when we discuss section 28. I again ask the Minister to consider accepting the amendment.