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CSNA NEWS
CSNA NEWS CSNA to present views on Tobacco Licencing Bill to government
JOHN PAUL LONERGAN, national president, CSNA
CSNA’s Sara Orme discusses inflation on Claire Byrne Live CSNA National Executive member Sara Orme
CSNA National Executive member Sara Orme appeared on Claire Byrne Live on 31 January to discuss the current inflation in prices. Missed it? You can catch up on the RTÉ Player.
Reminder: Use of CCTV images The CSNA has been made aware of an incident where a retailer has experienced a robbery in their store and then after the incident shared the CCTV images on their social media pages of the individual to assist them in identifying the person involved in the theft. We would like to remind all members that CCTV images should not be shared on any social media platforms for use to identify an individual. It is illegal to share CCTV images of any kind that involve or include members of the public on any social media channel It is illegal to share CCTV images that include members of the public on any social media channel
Members will be aware that the government adopted as policy as far back as October 2013 a Department of Health document ‘Towards a Tobacco-Free Ireland’ during the period that James Reilly was Minister for Health. One of the changes envisaged in the policy was the introduction of a licensing system for all retail outlets selling tobacco products, rather than the registration system brought in on foot of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts of 2002 and 2004, a system that came into force in 2009. A partial consultation (the questions from the department did not provide for commentary) on new licensing, compliance, and restrictions on availability and styles of outlets, took place in 2014 which finally found its way into the heads of a bill in late 2019. The fall of the government delayed any progress on the pre-legislative scrutiny apart from seeking submissions on the bill. The CSNA has been involved in all parts of this process to date and were recently notified that our request to present our views on the bill have been noted by the committee. Our views will be based on our perspective as retailers and will have been formed from an intimate knowledge of our needs as retailers; the CSNA is not the mouthpiece of tobacco companies or their distributors; we believe their intervention and interference in this bill is most unwelcome and is, we suggest, counterproductive.
Vincent Jennings, CEO of the CSNA, says the association’s views on the Tobacco Licencing Bill will be based on its thorough knowledge of retailers’ needs
There is considerable goodwill for our sector, built up particularly from the enormous effort that you and your staff have made during the pandemic, the same cannot be said for ‘Big Tobacco’. If it is suggested by anyone from a tobacco company that they can help you with opposition to the bill, in our opinion your very best approach is to decline.
Government announces extra public holiday The announcement confirming the previously suggested intention that Ireland would increase the number of public holidays from nine to ten is not surprising. Given the similar declarations made by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar ever since he became Minister at the Department of Enterprise and Employment Affairs, employers have come to expect a blind eye and deaf ear when putting forward their concerns. While it can be pointed out that Ireland has fewer public holidays than many other European countries, many of these States do not provide for the transfer of obligations when the dates occur on weekends. A commemorative public holiday to acknowledge the real pain, suffering and loss incurred through the pandemic is not unreasonable, although not immediately following the national holiday, given that we most likely will still be observing some restrictions. The installation of a new and permanent public holiday from next year is a different matter entirely. Unless St Bridget’s Day falls on a Friday, when the holiday will be observed on that day, the Monday closest to 1 February will be a public holiday.
Pictured holding a St Brigid’s Cross are first class students Hugo Quinn (5) and Callie Early (6) from St Brigid’s Primary School in the Coombe, Dublin
For retail employers, the additional costs incurred will never have the ability for offset through extra holiday-oriented sales as against the benefits many enjoy during the May and summer ones. The extra cost to your annual payroll is €3.70 per €1,000 PRSI included.
Keep updated on the Covid-19 situation on the CSNA website: www.csna.ie ShelfLife February 2022 | www.shelflife.ie
