RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley continues to liaise with Government, the HSE, other regulatory bodies and the media raising the concerns and issues arising for independent family shops, convenience stores and supermarkets. The RGDATA Board held a special Covid 19 meeting via conference call and will continue to liaise regularly to identify RGDATA members’ issues and concerns and ensure that action is taken to address them.

Please email us with any concerns that you have to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will revert to you within 24 hours. Our telephone Helpline 01-2887584 is active 9am – 5.30pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Make sure you are getting our news emails and ezines – send us in contact details if you want us to message you to different email addresses or mobile phones.

RGDATA is liaising with the Central Bank and the main banks to raise independent retailers’ concerns regarding cash, payments and banking services. If you have any issues that you need addressed please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will contact you to speak in confidence. RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley is due to have a conference call meeting with the Bank of Ireland CEO on Thursday.

Click here to read the latest issue of Convenience & Forecourt Retailer which includes an article by Tara Buckley, Director General RGDATA about the challenges facing independent retailers in 2020.

RGDATA is providing feedback to Government on the range of supports it is providing to deal with the Covid 19 pandemic. Further measures are expected today so stay updated by reading RGDATA messages and send us your feedback on the practicality of any measures proposed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Click here for the latest Government information.

RGDATA Director general Tara Buckley is actively engaging with the HSE, the Department of An Taoiseach and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation on different advisory groups that are meeting regularly on Covid-19. Please keep RGDATA updated on any issues that are arising in your stores, any views you have about the management of the crisis. Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Government has published a National Action Plan on Covid-19. You can read it here.

Click here for a copy of the Government’s latest Covid-19 poster. The HSE advice is that anyone experiencing fever and/or cough should self-isolate and contact their GP by phone.

Click here to read the press release from Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty about simplified unemployment payments and payments possible through employers.

An Garda Síochána has established a COVID-19 National Co-Ordination Unit operating from Garda Headquarters under Deputy Commissioner Twomey, Policing and security to co-ordinate and manage a strategic Garda response to this dynamic situation.  Click here to read the Garda statement re Covid-19.

To ensure that you get the most up to date, correct information about Covid 19 the HSE recommend checking this link regularly for any updates to the guidance being provided for the business sector in relation to Covid-19 as the situation is evolving: