Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Last Monday I passed through Castlerea and noticed publicans erecting a sign proclaiming "Customers wanted - apply within". While this was a humorous approach by the two publicans Albert McCormack and Seán Lavin of the Horse and Jockey in Castlerea, it nevertheless indicated the pressure on pubs at this time. Today's edition of the Roscommon People highlighted this particular situation. Some 1,617 pubs closed down between 2005 and 2012 with approximately 25,000 job losses in the past five years. If any other industry had such a loss there would be an outcry. In every town and village there have been job losses in the publicans' trade. By highlighting this in Castlerea, we will raise the issue again here in the House. Below-cost selling in supermarkets is detrimental to the well-being and health of the public. On 25 March 2004, a publican, Thomas Byrne, of The Square in Roscommon sent a letter to the editor highlighting the detrimental effect it would have in this regard.