Retail Excellence has called for an immediate intervention to resolve the Bus Éireann impasse, saying that it could lead to retail sales plunging by up to 60%.
Commenting on the situation Lorraine Higgins, Head of Public Affairs and Communications, said, “The lack of a resolution in the Bus Éireann debacle has led to strike contagion which is having an enormous impact on footfall and retail sales activity."
She added that retailers have enough challenges to contend with, as they face sterling devaluation, the impact of Brexit and a fall in Irish consumer sentiment.
“Furthermore, in the week Article 50 was invoked by Theresa May, it is undermining all the work being done to encourage UK-based businesses here post-Brexit. So, the damage being done is unquantifiable and it will undoubtedly take retailers a long time to recover.”
She concluded by saying that, “An immediate solution needs to be found. You would have to question what is the purpose in staying neutral on an issue that is having widespread ramifications?”
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan
