Leading independent retailer meets with Wicklow–Wexford Dáil Member

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) met with Sinn Féin TD Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin at Bunclody in County Wexford on Friday, March ,6 at Day Today News, the business run by the Fed’s district vice president Peter Steemers. Day Today News has been operating in the town for just over a hundred years.

Mr Ó Súilleabháin heard about the range of challenges facing Mr Steemers’ business and those of fellow independent retailers,  including high business rates, staff costs and escalating energy bills.

Mr Ó Súilleabháin said: “Mr Steemer’s business has been here for a century offering an excellent service and a wide range of services, which are indispensable for people living in Bunclody and the surrounding area. However, you have to wonder how much longer it will continue if things continue as they are.”

Mr Ó Súilleabháin has represented the Wicklow–Wexford for Sinn Féin at Leinster House since the 2024 election and before that served for over a decade as a Wexford Councillor and also had a career as a special education teacher. The meeting was convened after the Fed’s President in Ireland Martin Mulligan wrote a new series of letters expressing concerns about rising costs and red tape to Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independent TDs.

Mr. Steemers said: “I was impressed by Mr Ó Súilleabháin’s positive and friendly approach. He clearly understood the challenges we face as small retailers and our need for support. We spoke about the cost challenges facing Fed members across Ireland and how they are simply driving many out of business. We spoke about the need for a Small Business Ombudsman to promote the voice of small businesses like retailers and we look forward to working with Mr Ó Súilleabháin and other TDs across the political spectrum at Leinster House.”

Also attending the meeting was the Fed’s membership services manager Gwen Patterson.