Retail in free fall - Talk of taxes is reckless

The latest retail figures make frightening reading, as retail sales dropped by more than 20% in January over the same month last year. This was the largest decline since records began in 1974.

The Irish economy is heading for the worst performance in over 40 years. Jobless claims are already at a record high and could jump by a further 30% this year as the economy contracts by as much as 6.5%.

Ministers should get out of their cars and walk down the streets of our towns and witness the number of businesses that have closed. There is a lot of reckless talk about taxing “old reliables”.