Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Mar 1998

Vol. 489 No. 2

Written Answers. - Retail Trading Hours.

Ivor Callely

Question:

90 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of retailers on the implications of Sunday trading; the retail trading hours in EU member states for Saturday and Sunday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7720/98]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

I am aware of the concerns voiced by certain retail interests about the implications of Sunday trading. The social partners have, as the Deputy will appreciate, differing concerns about this issue and have differing perspectives as to how they should be addressed.

My colleague, Deputy Tom Kitt, Minister of State with responsibility for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, has been keeping in close touch with ongoing developments in regard to the matter of Sunday trading in the retail sector. It is his conviction — a conviction that I fully share — that a partnership approach rather than imposed legislative action is the key to a mutually acceptable resolution of the difficulties associated with Sunday working in the retail trade.

In line with this approach, Deputy Kitt recently launched a discussion process between the social partners aimed at reaching a voluntarily agreed approach to the issue of Sunday working in the retail trade. Following a meeting with the Minister of State on 30 January last, representatives of IBEC and ICTU have been meeting on the issue under an agreed independent Chairman. The Minister of State has requested that the chairman should submit to him a report on the outcome of these discussions by the end of April 1998.

As regards the retail trading hours in EU member states for Saturday and Sunday, the Deputy should note that there are no rules / regulations / directives in operation or in contemplation at EU level with regard to such hours. Arrangements of this nature are a matter for the individual EU member state Administrations to determine for themselves. While practice varies from member state to member state, the trend generally is towards deregulation of trading hours. My Department is not in possession of the details of the trading hours regimes of the individual EU member states and, in the short time available, has not been in a position to obtain them.