Retail group criticises Government decision to ban click and collect services

Retail Excellence has said that the expected ban on click and collect services will have a “disproportionately negative effect on smaller retailers.”

A ban on click and collect services is expected to be one of numerous severe new measures announced by the Government later today as Ireland looks to stem the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.

Non-essential retail outlets were ordered to close on New Year’s Eve and Duncan Graham, Managing Director of Retail Excellence has said that they have all “fully complied with what has been asked of them by the Government.”

Mr. Graham added that “it is clear that the country is facing an enormous challenge and of course we acknowledge that the Government must act to halt the spread of Covid-19, but there is little public health risk in allowing customers collect goods from non-essential retailers who remain shuttered because of the lockdown.”

While Mr. Graham feels the Government’s motives are “well-intentioned”, he said that the ban will have a “disproportionately negative effect on smaller retailers.”

He said there was a need for “substantial discussions” as “many of our members will have been closed for almost half a year by the time we get to the anniversary of the pandemic in March, and they need help urgently if they are to reopen when this emergency passes.”

(header pic: Shutterstock)

READ NEXT: The Moderna vaccine has been officially approved for use in the EU