David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It has, because we are selling Ireland, so to speak. We are selling bits and pieces of Ireland, as we have done in allowing these supermarkets to come in here.

Competition was invoked by the Minister. That idea is ludicrous. I remember being here when a previous Government introduced the Competition Bill, under which everyone had to compete for everything and everything had to be advertised. It was just like the bloody European Union, but it forgot to ensure that the chief executive would be appointed as a result of an open competition. I do not believe in bowing down to these false gods of competition, EU authority and all the rest of it. It is about time people challenged them, and thank God for Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell, her colleague, Senator Mary Ann O'Brien, and others who are prepared to stand up, speak the truth and alert people to the fact that this is happening.

Also, we have a reasonable lottery, and if we sell it I believe it will be largely out of control. That worries me because, as a gambler and somebody with an addictive personality who, in the days up to yesterday, used to smoke - I would start at one end of the packet and end up at the other; it was the same with chocolates-----