Specifically, RGDATA calls for the full and timely implementation of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum Report and for the recommendations from that Report which require budgetary measures to be implemented in Budget 2027.

RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley said:

“Budget 2027 must deliver measures that deliver a meaningful reduction in Business Costs. This is essential given the emphasis this Government has put on the establishment of the Cost of Business Forum and commentary from the Taoiseach and senior ministers that the work of the Forum will be recognised and acted upon.

If Budget 2027 does not enact the budgetary measures identified in the Cost of Business Advisory Forum Report 2027, then the commitments in the Programme for Government on business costs and the comments of the Taoiseach and senior Ministers will be counted as purely aspirational and worthless in practical terms.”

The RGDATA submission also calls for measures to address employment costs, insurance costs and reducing the red tape burden on independent convenience/grocery stores by 30%.

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Irish consumers have saved more than 125,000 Surprise Bags from cult burrito chain Boojum using the surplus food app Too Good To Go. By preventing these meals from going to waste, Boojum and Too Good To Go have collectively helped to avoid the equivalent of 337,500kg in CO2e emissions. This is equal to 2,365 flights from Dublin to London.

This achievement demonstrates the success of Boojum’s ongoing partnership with Too Good To Go, which forms a core part of its sustainability focus and commitment to making every meal count. Through the partnership, Irish and UK consumers can secure Boojum’s great food at a tasty discount, simply by using the Too Good To Go app. Hitting the milestone of saving 125,000 meals from going to waste is a figure that shows just how much these individual actions can add up over time.

Since the partnership launched in 2023, users have been able to rescue surplus food from more than 18 Boojum stores across Ireland and the UK. Too Good To Go users can expect to find a variety of items such as Boojum’s famous burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, nachos, and signature salads in each Surprise Bag rescued from participating locations.

Machaela O’Leary, Key Accounts Manager at Too Good To Go, said: “The demand for Boojum on the app has been incredible. Reaching a milestone like this shows just how much Irish consumers care about reducing food waste, and how much they love getting a great deal. This is exactly what Too Good To Go offers, and there is plenty more to come. Saving food and saving money is a no-brainer.”

Robert Powell, Head of Operations at Boojum, said: “Our partnership with To Good To Go has been a phenomenal success since launching in 2023. The platform allows us to efficiently minimise our food waste, helping us to deliver on our wider sustainability objectives, whilst at the same time introducing Boojum to hundreds of new customers a week, a win win!”

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Roseanne will succeed outgoing Director General, Tara Buckley who will be retiring after 22 years leading the organisation.

Currently Head of Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability with RedClick, Roseanne has over 15 years of senior experience across the aviation, insurance, FMCG and retail sectors.

The President of RGDATA Colin Fee welcomed the announcement and said that Roseanne was an excellent candidate to assume this leadership role for the independent retail grocery sector.

Colin Fee commented;

“This is a great appointment for RGDATA. Roseanne has a wealth of relevant experience that will serve her and our members well in this new role. Roseanne’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the independent retail grocery sector. Roseanne knows the retail grocery trade well having worked for RGDATA early in her career”

Colin Fee also paid tribute to the outgoing Director General, Tara Buckley who will be stepping down after 22 years leading the organisation

“Tara Buckley has been an outstanding Director General for the organisation for the last 22 years and will leave RGDATA in an excellent position when she retires in September. We thank Tara and wish her and her family the very best in the years ahead” Roseanne Regan said that she was very pleased to be taking up the role; “I am delighted to take on the role of Director General at such an important time for the sector. Independent retailers are facing significant challenges, and it is more important than ever that their voice is heard. I look forward to building on the excellent work of my predecessor and ensuring RGDATA continues to be a strong and effective advocate for independent grocery retail in Ireland.”

About Roseanne Regan

Roseanne Regan is a communications, public affairs and sustainability leader with over 15 years of senior experience across the aviation, insurance, FMCG and retail sectors. She led communications across European markets at Ryanair before holding senior roles at Liberty Mutual Insurance, remaining with the business through its acquisition by Generali and rebrand to RedClick, where she served as Head of Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability and sat on the company’s Management Committee.

A Galway native, Roseanne began her career at RGDATA and brings extensive experience in media relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy.

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The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has released its official new vehicle registration statistics for June.

New car registrations for June were down 9.7% (2,200) compared to June 2025 (2,436). Registrations year to date are up 4.2% (85,203) on the same period last year (81,749).

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) increased by 2.9% (1,082) compared to June last year (1,052). Year to date LCVs are up 14.3% (21,492). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations experienced a decrease of 25% (96) in comparison to June 2025 (128). Year to date, HGVs are down 5.9% (1,553).

Imported Used Cars have seen a 42.7% (8,149) increase in June 2026, when compared to June 2025 (5,712). Year to date imports are up 39% (47,109) on 2025 (33,895).

In June 1,123 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was a 9.7% decrease from the 1,244 registrations in June 2025. So far this year, 20,164 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 48.0% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 13,629 electric cars were registered.

In the new car market share by engine type, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) continues to lead the market at 25.89% as the most popular engine type, followed by Electric 23.67%, Petrol 21.06%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.21%, and Diesel 12.87%.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commenting: 
“Overall, the new car market outturn for the first half of the year was positive, with 85,203 new cars sold, an increase of 4% on the first six months of last year. The clear trend in sales is the move towards Battery Electric and Hybrid Electric sales, which now account for nearly two-thirds of the market; only seven years ago petrol and diesel cars accounted for 88% of registrations. This is a fundamental market development and is particularly underlined this year by the increase in BEV sales, which at 20,164 units represent a 24% market share. Looking forward to the 262 July registration plate, we are expecting further growth in BEV sales. The extension of the SEAI purchase grants, backed up by generous offers from Distributors and Retailers, has now been further enhanced by the 2,000 customers availing of the Government’s BEV pilot scrappage scheme.”

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Responsible Vaping Ireland (RVI), the representative body for more than 3,300 independent vape retailers and business owners, has called on Government to rethink its approach to vaping policy as smoking rates show signs of stagnating, arguing that regulated vaping products have an important role to play in helping adult smokers move away from cigarettes.

The call comes as the latest Health in Ireland data from the Department of Health shows smoking prevalence increased marginally between 2023 and 2024, raising concerns that progress in reducing smoking rates may be stalling.

Launching its Budget 2027 submission, RVI is urging the Government to adopt evidence-based policies that support adult smokers seeking alternatives to cigarettes, while strengthening enforcement against illicit products and protecting responsible retailers.

RVI’s Budget 2027 submission contains five key recommendations:

• Freeze E-Liquid Products Tax (EPT) rates and introduce a tax stamp system for vaping products;
• Freeze recently introduced vaping retail licence fees;
• Increase funding for underage test-purchasing programmes;
• Increase product compliance inspections of vaping retailers; and
• Fund annual monitoring of the illicit vape market.

Lorraine Carolan, National Spokesperson for Responsible Vaping Ireland, said:

“The latest smoking figures should be a wake up call. After years of progress, smoking rates are no longer falling and have started to move in the wrong direction.

We need to examine whether current policies are doing enough to support smokers who want to quit. Vaping is widely recognised as a lower-risk alternative to smoking and has helped many smokers move away from cigarettes.”

Ms Carolan said that the Government should ensure regulated vaping products do not become less attractive to adult smokers at a time when smoking rates have stopped declining.

“Budget 2027 should focus on supporting smokers to switch, tackling illicit products and backing responsible retailers who comply with the law.

Maintaining the current E-Liquid Products Tax rate is important. Excessive taxation risks narrowing the price difference between cigarettes and vaping products, reducing an important incentive for smokers considering a switch.”

RVI is also calling on Government to strengthen enforcement measures against illicit products, including the introduction of a tax stamp system for vaping products.

“Responsible retailers are complying with increasingly stringent regulations, paying licence fees and meeting their tax obligations. However, enforcement must keep pace with regulation, as rogue actors continue to evade their responsibilities under the new EPT system.

A tax stamp system would provide Revenue and enforcement agencies with an effective tool to identify non-compliant products, tackle illicit trade and protect legitimate businesses”, she said.

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