In depth: Minister Neale Richmond

ShelfLife spoke to Minister Richmond to gain a greater understanding of his outlook and the issues he has been prioritising to date in his endeavours to support Ireland’s retail sector

Q: Since your appointment, how have you engaged with a range of retailers to learn more about the challenges they face?

A: Upon my appointment I made it a priority to meet businesses as well as representative groups to hear about the issues impacting them on the ground. I have met retailers at the retail forum, met with RGDATA, and bigger retailers like Penney’s, as well as smaller retailers across the country, from Callan, Co. Kilkenny to Youghal, Co. Cork. It was very important for me to meet businesses around the country, not just in Dublin, to hear their experiences.

Q: What do you admire most about the Irish retail sector?

A: It has to be its resilience; over the past four years alone, Irish retailers have had to react to Brexit, a pandemic, supply chain issues and an energy crisis resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. That these challenges have been met is a testament to the quality of businesses and retailers we have in Ireland.

Q: What do you perceive as the most critical issues currently facing grocery/convenience retailers and how will you endeavour to support them?

A: The grocery/convenience sector is facing similar issues to the retail sector in general: rising energy costs as well as accessing and retaining staff. The revamped TBESS scheme should be a major help with energy costs, with businesses now eligible to receive up to €15,000 per month on their energy bills with a 30% increase in their bills, rather than a previous 50% increase.

On staffing issues, we are working to make retail a more attractive sector for employees to make their careers in; increasing the minimum wage and ensuring more workers’ rights helps to encourage workers’ into the sector I have also called for a review of the current banded hours system to ensure that those working in the sector are, where possible and feasible, able to work the number of hours that suits them and their employer

Q: In a meeting with retailers’ association RGDATA, you stated that one of your key priorities in office will be to reduce the cost of all insurance including employers’ liability and public liability. How do you intend to achieve this?

A: The cost of insurance is impacting retailers of all sizes, and there is a whole of government commitment to addressing these costs. I will be working closely with my colleague, Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who has dedicated responsibility for insurance, in bringing down insurance costs. I am also working with my departmental colleague, Minister Dara Calleary on this, as he has responsibility for the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) and is working to keep personal injury cases out of court and settled through mediation. There is no one solution to keeping insurance costs down but this is something that government are committed to addressing.

Q: A new survey by RGDATA found that 95% of retailers have been victims of crime over the last 12 months. What can be done to help protect retailers facing aggressive crime, shoplifting, abusive behaviour, racist attacks, sexual harassment, and fraud?

A: High visibility policing is a really important tool to keep our communities strong and safe, and this includes our retailers. Having more Gardaí on the streets rather than behind a desk is crucial. With 1,000 additional Gardaí coming on stream as per Budget 2023 and a Garda recruitment campaign currently live, we are on our way to achieving this.

Operation Citizen is the current highvisibility policing strategy which focuses on getting more Gardaí out onto the streets, and it has been very effective in Dublin. Having more Gardaí on the beat helps prevent crime, and most importantly it helps people to feel safe when at work or out in our streets. There is a role to play here for sentencing and punishments for those who commit these crimes, but high-visibility policing can help prevent them from occurring in the first instance.

Q: Can you explain more about the extensions applied to the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) and the practical assistance that this will give retailers?

A: TBESS was introduced in Budget 2023 to provide crucial support to retailers with their energy bills. It became clear that the scheme wasn’t working for businesses and changes were needed. As a result, extensive engagement with businesses was carried out and the scheme was updated and extended. Now, businesses must prove a 30% increase in their gas or electricity costs, rather than the previous 50%, and the monthly limit has been increased to €15,000, or €45,000 where the business has more than one location.