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The director of Retail Ireland has said that the decision to shut down non-essential retail was truly disappointing.
Speaking about RTÉ’s Six One, Arnold Dillon said that until a few days ago retailers expected to stay active and trade in the New Year.
He said there was an appreciation in the government that retail was a safe environment, but added that there is clearly now a broader goal to reduce the movement of people.
Dillon said the hope is that the country will be in a position to undo the restrictions and reopen again in the near future.
December and the first part of January are the most important business period of the year for many retailers, Dillon said, adding that many retailers were trying to make up for significant losses incurred earlier in the year.
More than 30,000 to 40,000 retail workers will participate in the PUP in the coming days, he said.
Vulnerable companies will try to ensure they have the necessary resources to survive the current restrictions, he added. But not all will make it, he said.
The head of Retail Ireland said it is vital that additional government resources are put in place for viable businesses.
In particular, he said, measures will be needed to protect retailers in disputes with owners.
Meanwhile, Retail Excellence has expressed “shock and dismay” at today’s government decision to extend the new Covid-19 restrictions to include non-essential retailers and said the sector will need urgent financial support.
Retail Excellence represents retailers of all sizes across the country, together employing some 280,000 people.
Duncan Graham, CEO of Retail Excellence, described the move as “a hammer blow for the retail industry.”
Graham said the retailers had followed government guidelines since reopening a few weeks ago and carefully managed customer volumes and health and safety protocols.
“We did everything they asked us to do over the Christmas period,” Graham said.
“We restricted the number of clients in the run-up to Christmas, we handled the post-Christmas period with great care and sensitivity as requested, and we paid great attention to ensuring that security protocols were adhered to.”
He said today’s news would devastate local businesses across the country; He added that “his heart goes out to our members who have worked so hard to show that they can be trusted to handle this difficult situation and that they are now being treated like this.”
After the year retailers have had, he said he fears many stores that are closing now will never reopen.
“Our members will need urgent and significant financial support to have any chance of reopening and we will seek urgent meetings with the government on how to manage rents, taxes and payroll given the prolonged lockdowns we have had to endure over the past nine months.” “he added.
Ibec says moving to Level 5 is ‘devastating’ for non-essential retailers
The Ibec business group has said that the government’s decision to implement stricter Covid Level 5 restrictions as of midnight tonight is devastating for the many businesses and service providers that will be unemployed once again entering the New Year. .
Ibec said that while the measures announced tonight reflect the severity of the increase in virus cases, the livelihood of so many is once again suppressed.
“While Ibec recognizes the need for increased restrictions due to the severity of the Covid situation in Ireland and across Europe, the move to Level 5, especially the closure of non-essential retail establishments, threatens a large number of individual livelihoods across the country, “said Ibec CEO Danny McCoy.
“Having made this decision, the government must urgently and collectively work with businesses to accelerate the widespread deployment of Covid vaccines,” McCoy said.
PUP and CRSS support will be available to affected companies
The government has said that supports such as the Pandemic Unemployment Pay and the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) will continue to be available to those affected by the additional Level 5 restrictions.
A double CRSS payment, up to a maximum of € 5,000 per week, will be available for those companies subject to restrictions this week and next.
It also says that affected businesses will be able to benefit from commercial fee relief during the first three months of 2021.
In retail, click-and-collect services may continue under additional Level 5 restrictions.
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