12 Márta 2013, 16:24
Restrictive parking policies in town centres and black market trade are having a major impact on retailers, the Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation was told today, Tuesday, 12th March 2013.
The Committee was discussing retail organisation RGDATA’s report ‘Nightmare on Every Street: Town Centres, Car Parking and Smart Travel’ and overall retail strategy including the black economy with RGDATA director general Tara Buckley.
Chairman of the Committee Deputy Damien English said: “We had a very enlightening and positive engagement with RGDATA on a number of issues impacting on retailers in towns and villages across Ireland.
We are keen to work with all involved to ensure that there are fair, flexible and sustainable parking policies in our town centres to attract shoppers and boost trade, while at the same time ensuring that good traffic management procedures are maintained.
On the issue of the black market, we heard that the retail sector is being hit particularly hard by the rise in the illicit trade in fuel, tobacco and alcohol. RGDATA said that the black market is having a significant impact on the legitimate retail sector, causing a significant drop in retail sales and the loss of jobs and on the exchequer with lose excise duties and VAT.
From our own series of regional meetings on the issue, we are aware that the black market destroys sales and makes jobs more vulnerable. 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 and to protect small retail businesses such as the local corner newsagents from the pernicious effects of black market criminality.
Among the issues the Committee may consider examining in the future are pushing for a cross departmental approach on taxation and regulations, as well as increased awareness campaigns to raise public knowledge of the damage being done by the black market to jobs and businesses.”
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
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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