The Mandate Trade Union, which represents 37,00 staff, said it has joined with shop owners to warn the Government about a looming jobs crisis as online sales lead to the closure of brick-and-mortar stores.

UK-based property giant Hammerson, which owns half of Dundrum Shopping Centre, Ireland largest mall, has rejected a £4.88bn (€5.53bn) bid from a rival European shopping centre operator, France’s Klepierre.