People will not be able to physically buy clothes or toys for Christmas in supermarkets or other shops that are allowed to reopen (bar click and collect services), according to Leo Varadkar.
Speaking on RTE radio, Varadkar said that it wasn’t fair on shops that are allowed to open to sell non essential items that other shops could sell if they were allowed open.
The Tanaisterand Business and Enterprise Minister said that it would be unfair on the shops that were forced to close.
Retailers “need to abide by regulations and you need to abide by the spirit of the regulations,’ Varadkar said.
“If you are a mixed retailer, you should separate your stock and only sell items that are essential.
“If you are a supermarket or a big store that has groceries and clothes, you should separate off the clothes and not sell them. Workwear is ok but general clothing is not.
“We have been in touch with the Gardai and that will be enforced.
“If (shops) are selling PPE that is one thing. But if they’re trying to use PPE in order to sell other products, that is a very different thing.
“If you’re selling essential products that is one thing. If you are trying to use essential products as a means of opening your store to sell non-essential products, that is not ok.
‘That is not lawful and we will bring an enforcement action.
“It is also unfair. Think of the number of small shops and retailers around the country that have had to close.”
There has been uproar on social media as a result with my people commenting that it’s actually completely unfair for Varadkar to say such comments as shop owners are just doing their best to stay above water and keep their businesses afloat.
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