Representation

REPRESENTATION allows REI to express the concerns of our members to Government and to broader society while also designing and presenting constructive solutions. 

Budget Scheduling:  REI urge Government to move the Budget from December to February of each calendar year.

Rates: REI continues to argue for an immediate deferral of the rateable valuation calculation, which has proven so costly to those retailers in local authority areas where the calculation has been implemented to date. We continue to lobby for a rates reduction including the launch of a “Bord Snip” approach to local authority spending and the ring-fencing of water charges and property taxes to fund Local Authorities and in turn reduce the rates burden on businesses. 

Town Centre Management: REI intend to create a plan to revive Ireland's high streets and town centres. The plan will insight such matters as retail mix, car parking charges and enforcement, town planning, occupancy incentives et al. 

Black Market & Casual Trading: REI will push for increased penalties and improved enforcement of black market trading as well as increased licence fees and better regulation of casual trading. 

JLC’s: We are monitoring Government plans to re-establish the JLC system. It is our understanding that the new system of JLC’s will set lower pay rates which will be benchmarked against economic conditions. 

Lease Law: We are dismayed by the Government decision to not proceed with the legislation to unravel Celtic tiger rents. The Government were clearly aware of the Constitutional issues when promising the legislation in their pre-election manifestos and this decision is clearly a political rather than a legal one. 
 
Retail Planning Guidelines: The Retail Planning Guidelines (RPG’s) must be maintained in their current form. We are disappointed that the review of the guidelines has recommended an increase in the size of the cap for urban retail planning. We continue to engage with the Department of Environment on the matter.

VAT: We are disappointed that the Government have increased the VAT rate from 21% to 23% in Budget 2012.  It is our view that a 1% increase in 2012 followed by a 1% increase in 2013, would be a far more prudent and responsible approach. We continue to urge the Minister for Finance to review the increase during 2012.