Time to shut up shop on Sundays

APART from essential services, is there any reason why any business or general retailer should trade on Sundays? The high-powered marketing used in the promotion of Sunday trading is an intrusion on families and individuals. Sunday trading creates unnecessary stress, wastes leisure time and encourages overspending.

Recently a well-known Dublin businessman announced that his chain of 13 superstores will no longer open on Sundays. Having consulted with his staff, it was agreed to close for religious and family reasons and to compensate workers for any loss of earnings.

An EU directive in November 2003 regulating employee working hours included the provision for a general rest period on Sunday. Are Irish business people getting too avaricious or is the demand of addictive shoppers the driving force?