Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are all well versed on the considerable challenges facing shops on the main streets of towns and villages, including the bigger towns, due to online selling, multiple retailers and also the need to pay commercial rates, which online retailers do not have to pay. These problems remain. Unfortunately, we see too many of these shops closed on our main streets, and it is a depressing sight.

We have to hear the clarion call from multiple retailers and chain stores with the news earlier this week that six of these retailers - Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge and Wallis - are going to close stores here in Ireland, stores are closing in the United Kingdom and it is projected that 200 Boots stores in the UK will close. This is all on the high street, so it is not just a challenge to independent retailers. High street shops are under severe challenge and threat.

It is about time we took a serious look at the business models and the difference between different retailers. There are shops that have to keep a door open, pay staff, pay commercial rates and pay all the other costs associated with keeping open, and there are the people operating online. They are on different playing fields. The shops on our main streets cannot compete. I have particular sympathy for the small shops and independent retailers. The bigger shops and multiple retailers will look after themselves and will continue to sell online. We have to look at the business model, how we levy rates and also the public good and the desirability of maintaining these shops. We do not want to go into our town centres and be depressed looking at shut-up shops. If we want them, we have to make some policy changes, and it has to begin with commercial rates. It is worthy of a debate because this has been going on and on and it is only getting worse.