Feargal Quinn (Independent)

The very survival of this House is under threat. I suggest that our behaviour here last week did not enhance our chance of survival. The way we behaved was not acceptable and we need to be very careful in future that we earn the respect of those who are going to make that decision in the future. Following Senator Norris's plea to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to give serious consideration to his obviously deeply-held concerns, I urge the committee to do so.

I ask for a debate on the announcement yesterday by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, regarding the guidelines for the size of shopping centres and supermarkets likely to be built on the outskirts of towns. These guidelines were introduced some years ago. The Minister is of the opinion that they should be changed. I was impressed at the size permitted in the Dublin area whereby it would be increased from 3,500 sq. m to 4,000 sq. m and different sizes would apply in cities such as Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. The reason I raise this matter is that I think the Minister clearly believes that the fight against the rise in the cost of living would be enhanced by this measure. However, I read that it has come about because the EU-IMF bailout terms insist on such a measure. It is exactly the sort of measure we should be debating in this House.

I am concerned at the rise in the cost of living and the fact that the cost of living impacts on every household in the country and if this can be alleviated by the introduction of larger stores, that is well and good. However, I have been in quite a few towns around the country in the past two years and the main streets of many towns are devastated because of the shopping centres that have been built on the outskirts. A solution to this problem needs the sort of attention this House could give. The Minister stated that the recommendations are based on a Forfás recommendation of last year. I am concerned that if we are to bring our costs of retailing and of living into line with other countries, we must ensure that the centres of so many towns are not devastated.

I was in Drogheda last week and it was interesting to see what could be done by buying local. Thirty food producers in County Meath and County Louth in the areas close to Drogheda met a group of approximately 50 customers - eateries such as delicatessens and restaurants. These businesses did not realise there were so many good producers in their own area. I suggest that every part of this country should consider buying local and Members could set an example to the rest this Christmas deciding to buy local and certainly to buy Irish. The answer is in our own hands. We should also have a debate in the House.