Jobs Committee to discuss retail issues with RGDATA

The Committee will discuss RGDATA’s report by RGDATA ‘Nightmare on Every Street: Town Centres, Car Parking and Smart Travel’ and overall retail strategy including the black economy.

Chairman of the Committee Deputy Damien English said: “We’re looking forward to our meeting with Tara Buckley on RGDATA’s report which examines the challenges facing town centres in Ireland due to restrictive parking. It’s a chance for Committee Members to consider the concerns of retailers on this issue and discuss the various measures or guidelines they would like to see implemented in terms of parking and smart travel solutions in town centres.

Tomorrow’s meeting is also an opportunity for the Committee to discuss wider retail strategies, including the black economy. Last year, we held a series of regional meetings to address a number of key issues facing the retail industry, particularly the impact of the black market. It has been estimated by Retail Ireland that the black market is costing the exchequer €860 million annually while it endangers jobs in legitimate, tax paying retailers.

It is important that we as a committee with a remit in the area of jobs, enterprise and innovation continue to play our part in contributing to achieving progress on this subject and finding new potential solutions to the problem.”

This meeting will start in Committee Room 2, Leinster House at 1.30pm tomorrow, Tuesday 12th March 2013.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee Membership

Deputies: Dara Calleary, Áine Collins, Michael Conaghan, Damien English (Chair), John Halligan, Seán Kyne, Anthony Lawlor, John Lyons (Vice-Chair) and Peadar Tóibín.

Senators: Deirdre Clune, David Cullinane, John Kelly, Michael Mullins, Feargal Quinn and Mary White