Leo Varadkar confirms that supermarkets cannot sell clothes or toys

by



[ad_1]

Tanasite Leo Varadkar has confirmed that supermarkets that sell clothes and toys are breaking the law and will be sanctioned by Gardai.

Under Level 5 restrictions introduced earlier this week, all non-essential outlets and stores were forced to close.

Only stores that sell essential items, such as food, medicine or takeout, can remain open.

Leo Varadkar said that supermarkets cannot sell clothes or toys. Photo: PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIEN BEHAL / RollingNews.ie

However, it has been suggested that several stores that fall into the essential retail classification have continued to sell non-essential items.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has now confirmed that essential retailers must keep non-essential items.

He noted that Gardai will be able to punish retailers who sell items they shouldn’t.

All non-essential retailers were forced to close Wednesday night when Level 5 restrictions were introduced. Pic Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

Talking to RTE Radio One’s This week, the Minister of Commerce and Enterprise said that this behavior is unfair in the stores that were forced to close on Wednesday night.

‘[Retailers] it must comply with the regulations and it must comply with the spirit of the regulations, ” Minister Varadkar explained.

‘If you are a mixed retailer, you should separate your stocks and sell only the items that are essential.

Leo Varadkar said that supermarkets have to separate his clothes and not sell them. Image: Niall Carson / PA Wire

‘If you have a supermarket or a large store that has groceries and clothes, you should separate the clothes and not sell them. Work clothes are fine, but clothes in general [is] not.

“We have been in contact with the Gardai and that will be enforced.

‘Yes [shops] They are selling PPE, that’s one thing. But if they are trying to use PPE to sell other products, that is something quite different.

Leo Varadkar said essential stores cannot use their position to sell things like clothes or toys. Photo: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

“If you sell essential products, that’s one thing. If you are trying to use essential products as a means of opening your store to sell non-essential products, that is not okay.

‘That is not legal and we are going to initiate legal action.

It is also unfair. Think of the number of small stores and retailers across the country that have had to close. “

Varadkar said it would be unfair to small shops and businesses to have to close their doors. PHOTO: MAXWELLS

The Tansaiste said it is “confident” that current laws and regulations will allow Gardai to deal with stores that sell non-essential items.

However, he said that if more laws need to be introduced, they will.

Leo Varadkar also confirmed that supermarkets cannot sell toys in the lead up to Christmas as he urged toy retailers to create websites and click and collect.

Leo Varadkar asked toy stores to set up a click-and-collect website. Photo: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

He added: ‘It is possible to sell toys online. Delivery and click-and-collect are allowed according to regulations.

‘For supermarkets and big box stores that sell toys, that is a violation of the spirit of relationships and the letter of the regulation.

‘That shouldn’t happen and they stop doing that. We can [stop them doing it]. We are sure we can do it. ‘

The Gardai also confirmed that they will be essential stores that will be subject to ‘criminal regulations’ if they sell non-essential items.



[ad_2]