The Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA) has made a presentation to TDs and Senators concerning what it sees as the ‘onerous’ Structural Separation proposal within the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill.
The Bill, which is currently at committee stage in the Seanad, contains a section which would oblige mixed trading retail outlets to partition their alcoholic offerings from the other products on sale.
RGDATA and individual shop owners urged Senators to scrap the section in question, citing the sever impact its implementation would have on member’s shops.
Tara Buckley, Director General, RGDATA, explained: “RGDATA is supportive of 99% of this Bill. However we believe the proposed measure regarding walls and doors in local shops will hammer smaller community based shops and will not deliver on the Bill’s objectives.”
Following briefings from RGDATA and many individual shop owners about the adverse impact of the Structural Separation proposal on local shops, 20 TDs and Senators spoke in favour of RGDATA’s position at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party Meeting.
“An Taoiseach Enda Kenny has indicated that the Bill will be amended to address the concerns of local shops. RGDATA is currently working on securing an amendment that addresses the concerns of local community retailers,” Tara Buckley commented.
RGDATA intends to continue this campaign until the proposal is amended at Report Stage. The Bill will go before the Dáil once it has passed through the Seanad. “RGDATA is seeking simple amendments that will address the concerns of local shopkeepers,” said Ms Buckley.
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Donncha Mac Cóil
