Election 24: Candidates grilled on support for local shops

Polling day is here and the pressure is on your local candidates to declare their support for local SME businesses and keep them updated on all the challenges facing local shops.

RGDATA has laid out its election asks’ and analysed all the party manifestos.

Business costs

– Introduction of a reduced Employers PRSI rate of 6% for employees in the retail sector until2028

– Permanently reduced Employers PRSI rate for employees who are currently registered as students in second or third level colleges.

– A halt in the proposals to increase the statutory sick pay entitlement beyond the current level

– A halt in the increase in the Living Wage, unless matched by meaningful concessions on Employers PRSI rate or employment subsidies.

– A target driven Government programme to reduce insurance costs – with identified measures to compel insurers to reduce premiums (involving taxation if necessary)

– A commitment to reduce the reliance on businesses to fund Local Government, through anew structure that ensures that all users of Local Government services pay fairly.

– A reform of the National Oversight and Audit Commission to ensure that a strong and effective oversight of local government is introduced with published indices of performance, ability to issue directions to Local Government on change practices and a transparent accountability mechanism is introduced.

– A reduction in the regulatory burden on businesses due to the increasing costs of regulatory compliance.

– A review of competition and business costs in the banking, payment services, energy, insurance and legal sectors.

Crime and security

– Introduction of a specific offence of assaulting or threatening a retail worker.

– Establishment of a dedicated Garda unit dedicated to tackling retail crime.

– A zero tolerance approach to tackling retail crime – with an end to tolerance of “small crimes”

– Introduction of Fixed Penalty Notices for some categories of retail crime

– Introduction of statutory protection for retailers to exclude someone from their premises for good cause.

– Introduction of statutory barring orders to accompany convictions for shoplifting, or other retail crime.

Introduction of repayment and costs orders as part of a criminal conviction of a shoplifter/robber to compensate retailers for goods stolen, damage to premises and time taken to deal with crime.

Enterprise policies

A strong commitment to supporting Small and Medium Sized Businesses – All Government measures to be subject to a SME test to determine impact of proposals on SME sector, with identified changes to be made to avoid adverse impacts. – An end to the exclusion of the SME sector from relevant national economic forums – including the LEEF. – A more favourable tax regime to support succession planning in SME businesses – A reconfiguration of the Low Pay Commission’s mandate so that it is compelled to address affordability issues for businesses and make recommendations in that regard, before recommending any increase in wage levels.

Town Centres

– A review of the Town Centre First Policy to guide any changes required to improve its effectiveness.

– Incentive schemes to

• o encourage retailers to invest in town centres
• o bring urban living back into town centres
• o Support town centre retailers to boost their online presence

Climate Action

– The establishment of targeted incentive schemes by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland as well as increased access to accelerated capital allowances to support retailersupgrading lighting and refrigeration systems to more eco-friendly options.

– Inclusion of Reverse Vending Machine purchases in Accelerated Capital AllowancesScheme.

– Express remit being granted to the CCPC to monitor and oversee the management ofproducer compliance schemes to ensure that they operate efficiently with regard to thebest interests of domestic and business consumers and do not impose excessive obligations

on retailers.

RGDATA Election 24 Asks and brief analysis of all the party manifestos can assist you in making your decision.