Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
63. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps her Department is taking to assist retailers to deal with the impact in the fall in value of sterling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38613/17]
View answerThe Retail Consultation Forum was established by my Department in 2014 as a response to the challenges experienced by the sector during the recession. The Forum provides a platform for structured engagement between the retail sector and Government to identify practical actions which could be taken by Government, or by industry itself, to support sustainable growth, in particular employment growth, in the sector. Membership includes the main retail representative bodies, retailers themselves and representatives from relevant Government Departments and public bodies.
One of the most immediate concerns facing the Sector is the impact of Brexit and how this might influence exchange rates and consumer sentiment in the short term and impact matters such as customs, logistics and supply chains in the longer terms.
In recognition of these matters, Brexit has become a standing item on the agenda for discussion at meetings of the Retail Consultation Forum. My Department has also ensured that Retail representative bodies have been included in stakeholder engagements on the impact of Brexit and in a pilot study into the firm-level impact for enterprise of Brexit, to ensure that the impact of Brexit on the sector is understood. The retail sector also has access to supports such as the Enterprise Ireland Brexit SME Scorecard to assist with planning and preparation for Brexit.
A number of initiatives from the Retail Consultation Forum, my Department and other Government Departments will strengthen the capability and resilience of the retail sector to meet the challenges resulting from Brexit, including:
- Building digital capability to increase the competitiveness of the retail sector in an increasingly digital world through addressing digital skills gaps and supporting retailers to trade on line through initiatives such as the Trading Online Voucher scheme.
- Addressing the demise of the high street in towns and villages around the country with the launch in April 2017 of “A Framework for Town Centre Renewal”. The Framework includes a step- by-step Town Action Plan for key stakeholders and will support the “Town and Village Renewal” scheme launched earlier this year;
-Addressing energy, waste and water costs with the development, in consultation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, of a pilot Retail programme to reduce such costs and consumption.
Engagement with the retail sector will continue through the Retail Consultation Forum, bilateral engagements with representatives of the sector and Brexit-focused stakeholder engagement.
