Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to raise the issue of the alarming figures from Retail Excellence Ireland that show that more people are shopping online now than are shopping locally. I would like to encourage people to go out and support their local retailers. The fact that the value of sterling has gone down is helping people in terms of shopping online. Retail Excellence Ireland has started a campaign and is working with small retailers to help promote them online and showing that they have goods and offer value for money. It is incumbent on us to get the message out that people should support local retailers and keep their money local, because that creates local jobs. It is very important that we support this campaign.

I know the Cathaoirleach said that we should not raise two issues, but I welcome the fact that an agreement was reached on the issue of the cystic fibrosis drugs.