Clearly, we wish to ensure that Irish consumers get a wide choice of high quality products at competitive prices. The intense competition in the supermarket sector in the Republic has helped to keep inflation down.
This issue is not so simple that it can be dealt with by restricting it to floor area. Floor area is one of the elements being discussed in the context of trying to define how one can tax passive income. One of the suggestions made by many people is to define it in terms of floor area. That would encompass retail banks and other such institutions which nobody intended should benefit from 12.5 per cent tax. Clearly they must benefit, because it is a standard rate, unless we can define passive income in these terms.
However, there are enormous difficulties in taking that route. Does it, for example, relate only to floor area that is available to the public or where shopping occurs? Does it include warehousing where goods are stored or cafeterias or other such facilities? Can one have a slight gap between the clothing or hardware sections and the supermarket section? There are huge difficulties in defining this according to floor area.
Every reasonable person wants competition and choice. However, we do not want extremely large superstores which simply put others out of business or destroy the fabric of some of our medium sized or small towns. One of the main issues is how to balance competition and consumer rights with the socio-economic issues that arise. When the consultants examine it from a planning, transport, environmental and urban renewal point of view, it might be useful to refer the matter to a committee of this House. The issues are extremely complex.
Deputy Perry has one perspective while others have a different one. Some of the larger units in this city, such as Blanchardstown, Quarryvale, The Square in Tallaght and Cornelscourt, are among the busiest and most popular with consumers. It is not always easy to balance the various conflicts in this area. The Minister for the Environment and Local Government's decision to take the planning route is appropriate. When Deputy Dempsey made his decision there were about 20 applications for large superstore developments throughout the country. It would have been premature for the local authorities to have made decisions on them before the implications could be discussed.