Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Landy and very much welcome this amendment. The Minister has certainly been listening. We now have an opportunity to give the power to the people on the ground - the councillors representing the area who know best the business situation that prevails. With the indulgence of the Chair, I welcome the comments made by the Minister during the discussions on a previous amendment where he indicated that the Government and Department are looking at assisting centre-of-town businesses by looking at the possibility of some levies or some way of imposing charges on out-of-town retail developments to balance the situation in town centres. own town of Ballinasloe is a case in point. The life has been sucked out of the centre of the town by Tesco, Aldi and Lidl developments on the outskirts of the town with free parking, so there is a real need to balance that. The Minister is listening. This Bill and the amendments that have been made indicate we are heading in the right direction and that real power is being devolved to the people who know best what is happening - the councillors on the ground. We are on course.