Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I intend to address the matter in more detail. I welcome the measures on advertising. A number of measures in this area go to the heart of forming our attitudes to drink. We know advertising is powerful and that is why so much money is spent on it. Equally, if we agree that below-cost selling is a lure or bait to get people in, and it works, why are we not doing something about it? Are there vested interests at play? That is what I am wondering about during the debate.

The Minister of State might address another contradiction. We are at war with alcohol, yet we give grants to enable distilleries and craft beer companies throughout the country to be set up. We need to have a realistic conversation. Obviously, this problem will not be solved overnight and I welcome an open debate on the issue.

I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could address my particular concerns. I have heard before that stopping below-cost selling is not the be all and end all, and I accept that. However, it is clear to anyone who applies a modicum of logic and common sense that it is used and abused by the multiples to the detriment of small independent traders on the street. We could stop it right now. The smaller traders do not have the money for glamorous advertising etc. to help them to draw people in. Why are we not acting? It seems the only people who will lose out are those on the side of the multiple supermarkets. I am concerned about that. It is within the gift of the Minister of State and the Government to do something. I would appreciate an answer to that question.