The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) met with Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan in Bunclody in County Wexford on Monday, March 23 to discuss some of the challenges impacting independent retailers throughout Ireland.
Mr Brennan visited the business of the Fed’s Irish vice president Peter Steemers. His shop, Steemers – O’ Leary’s Day Today News has been operating in the town for the past century but is currently impacting by a range of economic and regulatory headwinds. The Fed’s membership development executive for Ireland David McKeown was also in attendance.
Topics discussed included the year’s further increase in the national minimum wage which went up by €0.65 (4.8%) to €14.15 per hour to sit as the second highest in the EU, behind only Luxembourg. Mr Steemers also highlighted members’ concerns about government taxation and associated regulatory costs, including the €1,800 combined Tobacco and Vape Licence.
The Fed representatives spoke about the rising spectre of retail crime with shop theft causing direct financial costs in terms of lost stock and the expensive security measures small retailers need to take in order to better defend their premises.
Mr Brennan said: “I was delighted to see Peter’s business and to discuss the vast range of product and services it provides. It is so important shops like this continue to both survive and thrive and I look forward to working with them – along with Fine Gael colleagues – in the months ahead.”
Mr Steemers said: “I would like to thank Mr Brennan for visiting the business and listening to the concerns of Fed members. He seemed genuinely keen to work with us locally and in Dublin and we hope to meet with him again at the Dáil Éireann.”
The meeting follows a recent discussion with Sinn Féin TD Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, earlier in the month at the same business which was part of the Fed’s ongoing initiative to ensure retailers are heard across the political spectrum.
