James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if clothes shops may reopen their changing rooms as they reopen in line with public health guidance; if persons will be allowed to try on clothes; the length of time clothes must be set aside following their use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10027/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out how the COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted. Ireland is now in Phase 2 of the roadmap.

The Roadmap is a living document and Government has demonstrated great flexibility in its decision to accelerate the phases as set out in the original Roadmap which is based on the the input and advice of NPHET. The Government also had regard to a paper which was developed by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an updated assessment of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify, from an economic perspective, some priority issues for re-opening of economic activity under Phase 2. This paper, “Economic Considerations for Reinstating Economic Activity - Update for Phase 2”, is available on my Department’s website at

As a result of the Government’s decision of 5 June 2020 more retail outlets are permitted to open up from Monday 8 June 2020. The advice on this matter is that retailers must put measures in place in their stores to minimise the spread of infection among customers and staff.

These could include:

- protective screens and barriers

- operating new queueing approaches

- limiting the number of customers and staff per store at any one time

- providing cleaning stations

- increasing store cleaning and hygiene

- considering store layout to facilitate social distancing

- closing changing room facilities

- controlling the number of individuals that staff and customers interact with at any one time

- introducing frequent cleaning of customer touchpoints and providing hand sanitiser at entrance and exit points

- limiting customer handling of stock, for example, through different display methods, new signage or rotation of high-touch stock

- storing items that have been returned or handled extensively (footwear) in a separate room for 72 hours before displaying them on the shop floor

- removing seating areas (with exception of those for people with mobility/disability requirements)

- extending opening hours to reduce crowding

- implementing car park restrictions

This advice is available at

The National Return to Work Safely Protocol is a useful guide for businesses in making their assessments and adapting their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures. It sets out in very clear terms for employers and employees the steps that they must take firstly before a workplace reopens, and then while it continues to operate. The Protocol is available at

The Health and Safety Authority, which is an agency of my Department, is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the National Return to Work Safely Protocol in the workplace. If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie.

Additionally, The National Standards Authority of Ireland’s (NSAI) published the 'COVID-19 Workplace Protection and Improvement Guide' which is available at and the 'Covid-19 Retail Protection and Improvement Guide' which is available at These Guides contain useful 'how to' information that can be applied across many businesses.

In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the restart grant (to help small businesses with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers following COVID-19 closures), wage subsidy scheme, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities. These supports are designed to build confidence, to further assist businesses in terms of the management of their companies and to allow them to begin looking to the future and start charting a path forward for weeks and months ahead. For a full list of supports for business please see

Under the reconfiguration of the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business announced on the 5th June, there are now just two remaining phases instead of three, with Phase 3 starting on the 29th of June, and Phase 4 on the 20th of July. Further work will be carried out in the coming days and weeks to determine which actions will take place in each phase. Updates to the roadmap can be found at www.gov.ie

It is important to note that all decisions taken by Government on the timing of any lifting of restrictions as envisaged in the next two phases of the Roadmap will be informed by the public health advice at the time.