Posted online: Nov 18th, 2009

Retail Ireland, the IBEC group that represents the retail sector, has called on Donegal County Council and other local authorities to cut commercial rates when voting on the matter later this month.

Retail Ireland has written to the Chairperson of every local authority as well as all City and County Managers to ask for a reduction of 20%. In addition, the group has written to An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD, Enda Kenny T.D., Leader of Fine Gael, and to Eamon Gilmore T.D., Leader of the Labour Party, to request that their councillors support such a move.

Retail Ireland Director Torlach Denihan, said: “Over the last year 30,000 retail jobs have been lost and the sector is struggling to avoid further redundancies over the coming months. Local authorities must play their part in the retail sector’s efforts to regain lost competitiveness and safeguard employment. As can be seen from the Consumer Price Index released last Thursday, retailers have cut prices aggressively over the last year.