[ad_1]
A government minister, who commented that children’s socks are “not essential”, has given a new focus to his list of so-called “essential outlets”. The list was published coinciding with the introduction of Level 5 restrictions.
It’s a long list and 16 separate essential areas are identified. Food stores, takeaways, newsstands, home repair stores, pharmacies, gas stations, dry cleaners, banks, hardware stores, and click-and-pick services – the list is long.
The natural consequence of that list is that anything that is not on it is not considered essential. But that created gray areas and soon the clothing stores that closed their doors would see supermarkets selling clothes. It was like a red rag for a bull, and the smaller independent operators complained.
Last Friday, the government sent a memorandum to retailers and, for the first time, listed what it considered “non-essential retailers.” The list was not that long and clearly described the types of businesses that would have to close their doors during Level 5:
- Garden centers
- Bookstores
- Furniture stores
- Kitchen equipment
- fashion
- Shoe stores
- Educational supply stores (art supplies and books)
Last Sunday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar criticized retailers for breaking the rules. He said it was “totally unfair” for retailers to use essential products as a means of opening to sell non-essential products. He said it was “unfair”, adding that the gardaí would enforce the legislation to ensure this does not happen.
Within hours, gardaí was visiting retailers and many of the big chains divided up their clothing areas and any other areas that were deemed non-essential.
It was a victory for the smaller stores that had to close, but for consumers? It meant that some options to buy what many consider essential are gone. Regardless, some retailers have kept underwear and other essentials for sale.
But the appearance of the Minister of State for Employment Affairs and Retail Business, Damien English, last night in RTÉ’s prime time has fueled the fire even more.
He defended the government’s policy of ensuring that mixed retailers only sell products classified as “essential”.
When Miriam O’Callaghan asked if someone could buy a bottle of wine but not socks for her son, English said, “Socks come under clothes.”
The Government’s memorandum to retailers lists “fashion” as a nonessential retailer. We must ask ourselves: At what point did children’s underwear become “fashion” rather than necessity?
Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the government should classify children’s clothing as essential items. He said some parents don’t have the ability to order online, because they don’t have a credit card or a place where the products can be delivered.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach has said that no one is prevented from purchasing clothing or other essential or non-essential items as a result of the restrictions.
He said there are “ways and means” for people to have access to a variety of goods and services.
“Kids will be able to get clothes. You click and collect, you have online, you have store deliveries, you have a community call. All of that happened in the first phase of Covid and will happen in this phase as well. So there is the ability to obtain what could be called essential and non-essential goods and services across the board, “he said.
The regulations, as they are in force, do not provide clarity on what types of clothing are essential, other than PPE or work clothing. But they provide clarity for large retailers: If there are non-essential items in the store, they must be sealed and cannot be put up for sale.
Of course, the regulations also provide for click-and-collect, so while work clothes or work uniforms are the only clothing that can technically be sold in stores, there are click-and-collect options. for the consumers. The regulations state that “any other retail establishment” can provide click and collect services.
So you won’t be able to try on that new jacket in the store, but you can order it online and call the store to pick it up. Large Click and Collect posters have appeared in the windows of some outlets. Many of them had opened their clothing stores with some staples or even pet food at the entrance, as a way to circumvent regulations. Until Leo Varadkar called them.
A spokesman for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation said that Level 5 does not restrict the purchase of any product by people, “however, it does restrict physical entry to stores that are not essential.”
This, they said, is “to prevent people from gathering together and looking for” non-essential goods, to limit the spread of the virus.
“It is important to say that under Tier 5, all retailers, essential and non-essential, can continue to trade through ‘remote ordering’ from their customers and fulfill orders for non-essential items,” the spokesperson said.
This can be done online or by phone, for home delivery or for pickup.
“That means if you are a mixed retailer, you must separate your inventory and sell only the items that are essential,” the department said. “So, for example, if you are a supermarket or a large store that has groceries and clothes, you should separate the clothes and sell them only by call and collect, click and collect or for delivery, but not in the warehouse.”
However, the spokesperson said that retailers “can and have arranged, on compassionate grounds, for individual customers to purchase a non-essential item from the store.”
Many have questioned the classification of some items as non-essential. Alcohol is a common source of criticism. Oddly enough, based on current guidelines, you can search a pet store for a jacket for your dog, but not your children.
It is frustrating for consumers and is set to continue until the Level 5 restrictions are lifted on December 1.
[ad_2]