Taoiseach Micheal Martin Confirms ALL Stores Will Stay Open Including Penneys, Smyths, and More

The government has defied NPHET orders and all non-essential stores will reopen on St. Stephen’s Day

The group of the country’s top medical advisers wrote to the government, asking them to close all retail stores as Covid numbers remain dangerously high.

But Taoiseach Micheál Martin has announced tonight on Christmas Eve that they will not follow this advice and that there will be retail therapy for the nation starting Saturday.

Had the government followed NPHET’s recommendation, retail sources said it would have cost thousands of jobs.

Mr. Martin said: “The Government has made a decision on this.

“We made a decision in the Cabinet on Tuesday and the next government meeting is on the 29th.

“But on Tuesday we introduced very, very severe measures to move to Level 5 across the country and these measures have not yet gone into effect.

And ultimately I would say that of course we are concerned about the increasing numbers, but general public health principles apply and apply to our own individual behavior and our collective behavior, and that is the way in reality, regardless of the environment in which we find ourselves. en, that’s the way we defeat this virus and prevent its spread.

“So that means it is so important that we adhere to the guidelines, continue to wear masks in crowded and public places and maintain social distancing, reduce our contacts.

“Those are the key measures.”