RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley told a meeting of the Retail Consultation Forum (20 Sept) chaired by Minister Heather Humphreys that Government was not doing enough to address retailers’ concerns about spiralling insurance costs. “Minister the time for reports and research is over. Shop owners need practical interventions that will have an impact on premiums and address the serious issues RGDATA has raised about bogus and exaggerated claims and excessive payouts for extremely minor soft tissue injuries,” Buckley told the Forum.

RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley has refuted claims by the German discounters that they are “victims of store wars”. Buckley said RGDATA consistently sought to uphold the Government’s Retail Planning Guidelines (RPGs) and ensure sustainable retail planning and vibrant town centres. The Germans constantly ignore the RPGs and appear incapable of adapting their proposals to suit local planning policies. Click here to read the Sunday Times story

Enterprise Ireland is introducing a new pilot scheme to support eligible SMEs in the retail sector to develop their online presence.  If you have 20 employees and your business is online, you may be elegible for up to 50% of development costs.

Click here for more information. 

An initiative by the Heritage Council and RGDATA -Managing Historic Towns along the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) will take place in the Ballina Manor Hotel, Ballina, Co. Mayo on November 22nd 2018.  Save the date!

Click here for the flier.

Irish businesses must confront excessive costs on a range of fronts that often make running a commercial enterprise unnecessarily difficult, according to a report published last Wednesday by the Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Click here to read the report.

The Alliance for Insurance Reform of which RGDATA is a member, welcomes the publication of the insurance claims bill but insists that responsibility for the National Claims Information database be given to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and not to the Central Bank.  Read the press release here.

Click here to read the Occupiers Liability (Amendment) Bill 2018 and here to read Explanatory and Financial Memorandum 

Senators Michelle Mulherin and Gerry Horkan urged Minister for Insurance Michael D'Arcy to take immediate action to tackle unsustainable insurance costs following a briefing by RGDATA and other businesses and charities associated with the Alliance for Insurance Reform (AIR). AIR held a private session for TDs and Senators in Leinster House on Thursday 14 June. RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley briefed the TDs and Senators on the significant issues arising for local independent shops due to unsustainable insurance premium hikes and bogus and exaggerated claims.

Click here for details.

Click here to read the report.