Business

Irish retailers fear return to 'borders of the past'

 Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the retail sector needed certainty there would be no return to the borders of the past
Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the retail sector needed certainty there would be no return to the borders of the past Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the retail sector needed certainty there would be no return to the borders of the past

North and south retail bodies have expressed grave concerns to the Irish parliament over the impact of Brexit on the industry.

Retail Excellence and Retail Northern Ireland jointly presented to the Oireachtas Committee yesterday on the Good Friday Agreement and the impact of Brexit with both speaking of the uncertainty that exists following the triggering of Article 50 last month.

Lorraine Higgins from Retail Excellence, which operates in the Republic market said it was a "difficult and uncertain time" for many local businesses.

"Disentangling Ireland from the UK is the most brutal break up and we need to ensure that we have the best possible plan to safeguard Irish retailers and the 282,000 jobs and 100,000 businesses dependent on the relationship," she said.

"Along with CEO of Retail Northern Ireland we have proposed viable solutions which can be achieved by working together in a collaborative fashion. These actions are critical at this juncture as the impact of Brexit is not a well-defined scenario for Ireland who is the collateral damage in this referendum outcome."

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said there must be no barriers to trade post Brexit.

“Northern Ireland’s retail sector needs a lot more certainty than just a vague aspiration about ‘no return to the borders of past.’ The bottom line is that Brexit should not result in any barriers in trade and on free movement across the border. It clearly is a major problem not having an Executive in place to argue our case in these vital Brexit negotiations."

"Triggering Article 50 is the start of a huge process of economic, social and political change for Northern Ireland and it remains to be seen if this change will be positive for our local economy. Certainly leaving the Single Market and Customs Union is neither positive for our retail sector or local economy as a whole," he added.