Non-essential retailers should open Monday to avoid Christmas 'surge'

Ibec and Retail Excellance have written to the Taoiseach to voice their concerns and ask for clarity

Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy has called on the Government to urgently allow retailers to reopen ahead of Christmas, starting with eased restrictions in the last week of November 

Retailers are urging the government to allow non-essential retailers to open from this Monday to avoid a “surge" in shopping in December.

In a letter sent to the three party leaders yesterday, Retail Excellence's Managing Director Duncan Graham said opening non-essential retail on December 1 would enable retailers to trade for just over three weeks before Christmas.