Covid-19: Move to level 4 or 5 would be 'massive blow' to Ireland's retail sector

But Retail Ireland says that such a move would "involve the closure of thousands of retail businesses," with "tens of thousands of retail staff out of work" in the run up to the Christmas trading period. Picture: Sam Boal /RollingNews.ie

Retail Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the Irish retail sector, says that any move to close down “non-essential” retail would be "a massive blow" to a sector still recovering from the lockdown earlier in the year.

Retail Ireland's remarks come as the government meets to decide what further restrictions will be introduced later today.