Independent retailers in Ireland have renewed calls for a dedicated Ombudsman to champion small businesses in letters to leading politicians. It’s among other measures they’re calling for to help manage “overly burdensome” regulation.
The letters, which were addressed to an taoiseach (prime minister) Micheál Martin, minister for justice Jim O’ Callaghan, minister for enterprise, trade and employment Peter Burke and Mary Lou McDonald, leader of the Sinn Fein opposition. Martin’s government took office last month, after lengthy coalition talks following a general election in November.
In the letters, the Fed’s president in Ireland and Athlone retailer, Martin Mulligan, wrote: “The retail market is worth approximately €40bn each year to the Irish economy, employing approximately 200,000 people. Independent retailers play a vital role in Irish society, with its strong tradition of independent retail and focal point in the villages, towns and cities across the country.”
As well as calling for an Ombudsman for smaller businesses, the letter stated more effective police and court action was required, along with better intelligence sharing, to tackle soaring crime.
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This follows British retailers making similar calls regarding upcoming UK legislation, including a Coventry retailer this week who wrote in The Telegraph that the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill is “threatening the existence” of convenience stores.
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Members of the Fed in Ireland are also urging the new government to take steps to tackle retail crime after a recent report by national broadcaster RTÉ which revealed a 90% increase in incidents last year, mirroring similar rises in the UK, the organisation said.
“This has been a challenging period for retailers, with energy and labour costs continuing to skyrocket as well as several ongoing challenges in the form of increased competition from supermarkets no longer restrained by the grocery code. Increased government and EU interventions and regulations are adding to the cost of doing business. This comes at a time of rising concern about retail crime,” Mulligan wrote.
Members’ concerns over increasing energy and insurance costs, high bank charges and falling margins were also raised, the Fed said.
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