The Retail Consultation Forum will meet every Wednesday at 10am between now and December 31 to deal with issues arising re Brexit and Covid 19. RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley is a member of the Forum and can raise any issues of concern to members. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at any time with your issues, queries or concerns. Members should download the RGDATA App to ensure they keep up to date on all communications from RGDATA and all the relevant news and messaging from Government regarding Covid-19 and Brexit. 

Download the RGDATA app from Google Play or the App Store and use the code M0022 for access.

The Local Jobs Alliance will meet this week to discuss the Government’s plans for a mandatory sick pay scheme. If you have any views on this issue RGDATA wants to hear from you. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your comments. RGDATA is currently preparing a submission for Government on this important issue.

Minister for Rural & Community Development Heather Humphreys told Deputy Sean Sherlock that it was her intention that the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition will take place in 2021. She said it was unfortunate that the 2020 competition had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 and that her Department was currently considering the format of the competition in 2021. Click here to read the reply.

An RGDATA delegation led by President Colin Fee told Tanaiste Leo Varadkar that promised Government action on Insurance reforms must bring the cost of shop insurance down and address the issue of people making false, exaggerated or misleading claims for minor, fully recoverable injuries. The call came at a meeting between RGDATA, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Retail Minister Damien English. The Tanaiste said he was fully committed to bringing the cost of insurance down.

The Tanaiste noted the concerns raised by RGDATA directors who indicated that claims for minor injuries were increasing in some stores and many retailers were facing threats from anti-maskers regarding Covid 19 claims. This is adding to the frustration shop owners feel about the lack of any impact to date of Government measures on shop insurance costs and claims.

The Tanaiste said that Justice Minister Helen McEntee was addressing the Duty of Care issue and he noted that RGDATA had drafted an amendment to the Occupiers Liability Act to rebalance the duty of care and make it fairer, balanced and more reasonable. “Shop owners need insurance for catastrophic incidents and we will put our hands up if we are at fault, but we cannot continue to pay substantial premiums and fight our insurance companies who are settling questionable claims instead of challenging them. This issue is a key concerns for RGDATA members and we need action now that will bring down shop insurance costs,” Colin Fee urged the Tanaiste who chairs the Cabinet Sub Committee on Insurance.

RGDATA has called on the Department of Communications & Climate Action to ensure that proposed Deposit & Return scheme includes independent retailers at every stage of the scheme selection and design and that retailers are rewarded for taking part in delivering the scheme. RGDATA also calls for the use of Smart technology and existing infrastructure to ensure the scheme delivers the best value for money and measurable gains in terms of recycling. Click here to read the RGDATA submission.

Putting Town Centres First is a new podcast series exploring the antiquity of our towns in a time of COVID-19 and traising awareness and understanding of key issues now confronting our historic town centres.  Click here for more information and here for Tara's interview.

The number of Garda enforcement actions taken since the ramping up of Covid-19 restrictions in October has increased significantly according to the Policing Authority. Gardaí used Covid-19 enforcement powers 36 times in October compared to six times in September.
Gardaí took 57 enforcement actions against licensed premises in October as part of Operation Navigation. All licensed premises were closed under Level 5 restrictions except for takeaway services.
Since the end of June, gardaí have taken 8 enforcement actions against people for failing to wearing face coverings and five for breaching international travel restrictions.
There have been 11 incidents of alleged breaches of Level 5 regulations by retailers and 37 incidents relating to other breaches such as organising events.
The number of spitting or coughing attacks against gardaí also climbed in October, to 28 incidents, the first increase since May.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar is seeking is submissions on Government plans for new laws to give employees the right to paid sick leave.  

Launching the consultation (Monday, November 16) the Tánaiste said:   "Ireland is one of only a small number of European countries in which there is no legal obligation on employers to provide for sick pay, in the way they do annual leave for example. This needs to change and I am committed to introducing a statutory sick pay scheme that works for employees and employers as quickly as possible."

RGDATA will make a submission and is seeking views from members on how the scheme should operate. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your views.

DETE Communications Unit is seeking SME case studies from companies who have reviewed their supply chain and changed their operations to protect them against the impacts of Brexit by taking one or all of the following steps:

- Sought alternative import/export routes to the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland
- Undertaken the necessary customs training and/or carried out customs changes required
- Availed of Government supports, be that financial or advisory

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you wish to take part.

RGDATA president Colin Fee will lead an RGDATA delegation that will discuss all the key issues impacting on independent convenience and grocery retailers on an online conference meeting tomorrow.