Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Retail Consultation Forum was established by my Department in 2014 as a response to the challenges experienced by the sector during the recession. The Forum provides a platform for structured engagement between the retail sector and Government to identify practical actions which could be taken by Government, or by industry itself, to support sustainable growth, in particular employment growth, in the sector. Membership includes the main retail representative bodies, retailers themselves and representatives from relevant Government Departments and public bodies.

One of the most immediate concerns facing the Sector is the impact of Brexit and how this might influence exchange rates and consumer sentiment in the short term and impact matters such as customs, logistics and supply chains in the longer terms.

In recognition of these matters, Brexit has become a standing item on the agenda for discussion at meetings of the Retail Consultation Forum. My Department has also ensured that Retail representative bodies have been included in stakeholder engagements on the impact of Brexit and in a pilot study into the firm-level impact for enterprise of Brexit, to ensure that the impact of Brexit on the sector is understood. The retail sector also has access to supports such as the Enterprise Ireland Brexit SME Scorecard to assist with planning and preparation for Brexit.

A number of initiatives from the Retail Consultation Forum, my Department and other Government Departments will strengthen the capability and resilience of the retail sector to meet the challenges resulting from Brexit, including:

- Building digital capability to increase the competitiveness of the retail sector in an increasingly digital world through addressing digital skills gaps and supporting retailers to trade on line through initiatives such as the Trading Online Voucher scheme.

- Addressing the demise of the high street in towns and villages around the country with the launch in April 2017 of “A Framework for Town Centre Renewal”. The Framework includes a step- by-step Town Action Plan for key stakeholders and will support the “Town and Village Renewal” scheme launched earlier this year;

-Addressing energy, waste and water costs with the development, in consultation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, of a pilot Retail programme to reduce such costs and consumption.

Engagement with the retail sector will continue through the Retail Consultation Forum, bilateral engagements with representatives of the sector and Brexit-focused stakeholder engagement.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

63. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps her Department is taking to assist retailers to deal with the impact in the fall in value of sterling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38613/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Retail Consultation Forum was established by my Department in 2014 as a response to the challenges experienced by the sector during the recession. The Forum provides a platform for structured engagement between the retail sector and Government to identify practical actions which could be taken by Government, or by industry itself, to support sustainable growth, in particular employment growth, in the sector. Membership includes the main retail representative bodies, retailers themselves and representatives from relevant Government Departments and public bodies.

One of the most immediate concerns facing the Sector is the impact of Brexit and how this might influence exchange rates and consumer sentiment in the short term and impact matters such as customs, logistics and supply chains in the longer terms.

In recognition of these matters, Brexit has become a standing item on the agenda for discussion at meetings of the Retail Consultation Forum. My Department has also ensured that Retail representative bodies have been included in stakeholder engagements on the impact of Brexit and in a pilot study into the firm-level impact for enterprise of Brexit, to ensure that the impact of Brexit on the sector is understood. The retail sector also has access to supports such as the Enterprise Ireland Brexit SME Scorecard to assist with planning and preparation for Brexit.

A number of initiatives from the Retail Consultation Forum, my Department and other Government Departments will strengthen the capability and resilience of the retail sector to meet the challenges resulting from Brexit, including:

- Building digital capability to increase the competitiveness of the retail sector in an increasingly digital world through addressing digital skills gaps and supporting retailers to trade on line through initiatives such as the Trading Online Voucher scheme.

- Addressing the demise of the high street in towns and villages around the country with the launch in April 2017 of “A Framework for Town Centre Renewal”. The Framework includes a step- by-step Town Action Plan for key stakeholders and will support the “Town and Village Renewal” scheme launched earlier this year;

-Addressing energy, waste and water costs with the development, in consultation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, of a pilot Retail programme to reduce such costs and consumption.

Engagement with the retail sector will continue through the Retail Consultation Forum, bilateral engagements with representatives of the sector and Brexit-focused stakeholder engagement.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

64. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to ensure consumers benefit from the fall in the value of sterling in Irish branches of UK retailers to mitigate a potential increase in cross border shopping; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38616/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to underline the Government's commitment to ensuring that benefits of a stronger Euro are passed on to Irish consumers. My Department has engaged with the retail sector through the Retail Consultation Forum in relation to this issue when the euro has been strong against sterling. In response, retailers have explained that some of the differentials between prices quoted in Euro and Sterling may be attributed to such factors as the exchange rates at the time of the purchases by the retailers, the relative costs of doing business between the two jurisdictions and tax rates.

I understand that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has not received any consumer complaints on this issue in the past few months. While it is not my function to fix prices for retailers, it is my view that retailers should explain to their customers and to the economies in which they operate, why there are such price differentials between the two currency areas. Actions by retailers to restore consumers’ confidence that they can get a fair deal will help not only to address issues around the differentials in prices but will also help in assisting businesses to retain trade and, thereby, help to maintain employment.

I recognise that one of the most immediate concerns facing the retail sector is the impact of Brexit and how this might influence exchange rates and consumer sentiment in the short term and impact matters such as customs, logistics and supply chains in the longer terms.

In recognition of these matters, Brexit has become a standing item on the agenda for discussion at meetings of the Retail Consultation Forum which was set up in 2014 to provide a platform for structured engagement between the retail sector and Government to address challenges and to support sustainable growth, in particular employment growth, in the sector.

My Department has also ensured that Retail representative bodies have been included in stakeholder engagements on the impact of Brexit and in a pilot study into the firm-level impact for enterprise of Brexit, to ensure that the impact of Brexit on the sector is understood. The retail sector also has access to supports such as the Enterprise Ireland Brexit SME Scorecard to assist with planning and preparation for Brexit.

A number of initiatives from the Retail Consultation Forum, my Department and other Government Departments will strengthen the capability and resilience of the retail sector to meet the challenges resulting from Brexit, including:

- Building digital capability to increase the competitiveness of the retail sector in an increasingly digital world through addressing digital skills gaps and supporting retailers to trade on line through initiatives such as the Trading Online Voucher scheme.

- Addressing the demise of the high street in towns and villages around the country with the launch in April 2017 of “A Framework for Town Centre Renewal”. The Framework includes a step- by-step Town Action Plan for key stakeholders and will support the “Town and Village Renewal” scheme launched earlier this year;

-Addressing energy, waste and water costs with the development, in consultation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, of a pilot Retail programme to reduce such costs and consumption.

Engagement with the retail sector will continue through the Retail Consultation Forum, bilateral engagements with representatives of the sector and Brexit-focused stakeholder engagement.