'Don’t cancel Christmas' - Retailers plea to Martin and Varadkar ahead of new Covid restrictions

Under Level 4 and 5 restrictions being considered by Cabinet today, most retailers would be forced to close their doors in the run-up to their busiest trading period

Many retailers make 70% of their yearly profits made in the run up to Christmas Day. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Retailers have written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar pleading for the coalition government not to “cancel Christmas” and support the survival of retailers across the country.

Retail Excellence, which represents over 2,000 retailers, said a move to Level 4 or beyond would close an unprecedented number of retailers who will “never return to the market" and risk a further 60,000 jobs in addition to the 30,000 that have already been lost in the industry.