Fed’s Irish president writes to Irish government about high costs and crime

As Dail members return to business after the summer break, the Fed’s Irish president Martin Mulligan has written a series of letters to senior figures in the Irish government including the Taoiseach to highlight the vital role that small shops play to the economic health and social fabric of the nation.

In his letter to Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil, Mr Mulligan once again highlighted concerns about rising costs, including higher energy bills, above-inflation increases in the minimum wage and new tobacco and vape licencing costs of €1,800 per annum.

In further correspondence to the justice minister Jim O’Callaghan TD, he raised concerns about the continued impact of still high retail crime costs, which are estimated to cost Irish retailers at least €1.62 billion a year. His letter also highlighted an apparent growth in petrol forecourt drive-offs, which seem to have risen in recent months, following petrol price inflation after the war in Iran.

Mr Mulligan also reestablished contact with Peter Burke, a Fine Gael member of the Coalition government, who serves as minister for enterprise, tourism and employment who he met earlier in the year.

This letter reiterated the Fed’s call for a Small Business Ombudsman  in Ireland to help improve engagement between the retail sector and the government by:

• Providing a clear channel for small business owners to raise grievances about unfair policies or regulation obstacles.
• Acting as a mediator between small business and relevant government departments.
• Monitoring the impact of government policies on small businesses and advice on fairer, more sustainable approaches.

As well as offering to meet each of the politicians in Dublin, the Fed has invited TDs to meetings at some of the hundreds of Fed businesses across the Republic of Ireland in the coming months, to see the vital economic and community role the shops provide first hand.