Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2015
36. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to act on the recommendations of the recent Retail Excellence Ireland and Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association report on building the all-island retail industry, North and South. [12098/15]
View answerSince coming into office, the Government has recognised the importance of the retail sector to the economy. The Wholesale and Retail sector accounts for the largest share of employment in the Irish economy, employing 276,000 people in Ireland and representing approximately 15% of the workforce. The sector provides employment in every community in the country and is an important part of every locality.
Retail Excellence Ireland and the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association published the “Building Retail: North & South” report earlier this month. The report was funded through the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade's Reconciliation Fund, as it was recognised that a vibrant retail sector plays an invaluable role in the economy of the whole island.
The report makes a number of recommendations, many of which focus on positioning Ireland as a shopping destination and on marketing retail as part of the tourism strategy of Tourism Northern Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. These recommendations can best be progressed through engagement between the relevant retail associations and the tourism bodies across the island.
The report also recommends the establishment of a North-South Retail Forum which would be chaired by the retail bodies. My Department established a Retail Consultation Forum in June 2014 as one of the key deliverables in the Action Plan for Jobs to support the recovery of the retail sector in Ireland. The Retail Consultation Forum is chaired by the Minister for Small Business and Employment, Mr. Ged Nash, T.D.
The Forum provides a platform for a structured engagement between the Retail sector and relevant Government Departments and aims to be interactive, participative and solutions-focused. Membership comprises retail representative bodies, including Retail Excellence Ireland, retail practitioners, and relevant Government Departments and public bodies.
The Work Programme of the Retail Consultation Forum is driven primarily by the retail representatives on the Forum. However, the Forum could be asked to study the “Building Retail: North & South” report at a future meeting and consider if it can make a contribution to building an all-island retail industry.
The Forum will also shortly be considering the forthcoming report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on Town Centre Retailing, which is an important issue for retailers both North and South of the Border.
