WATCH: All non-essential goods retailers can reopen from Friday

By Q Radio News.

All non-essential goods retailers in Northern Ireland can re-open from Friday 12 June, Economy Minister Diane Dodds has said.

The Minister confirmed the major step forward during a visit to Debenhams in Belfast city centre today.

Mrs Dodds said: “I am very pleased to be able to confirm that all non-essential goods retailers in Northern Ireland can re-open from Friday 12 June, subject to them adhering to the necessary safety measures and no increase in the spread of the virus.

"This was considered at this morning’s Executive meeting and it was agreed that as long as retailers can adhere to the necessary safety measures, and there is no increase in the spread of the virus by Thursday, then these shops can re-open.

“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the local economy. The recovery has already begun and it is time now for the pace to accelerate. The re-opening of all goods retail outlets will be a huge part of this.

“The safety of staff and customers is of course paramount.

All retailers must be able to implement measures that minimise the risk to their staff and to the people who visit their stores. We will be co-existing with this virus for some time to come so it is vital that we continue to adhere to guidance to work and live safely. Debenhams is an excellent example of how retailers can make this work and adapt to this new normal.”

The Minister added: “The re-opening of our local shopping sector is a significant step forward in the Executive’s pathway to recovery.

I and my Executive colleagues remain committed to moving forward in the recovery while at all times keeping the health, wellbeing and safety of people at the centre and being transparent in our approach.

“This is a major step forward today but there is more work to do and I will continue to work to progress the recovery.”

Responding to the announcement that small retailers will be permitted to re-open from this Friday, as the Executive further eases lockdown, FSB NI Head of External Affairs, Roger Pollen has warmly welcomed the move as we begin to re-start the economy.

“Small businesses have been frustrated during lockdown to see larger businesses being able to continue to trade in products which they sell, while they were forbidden from opening. The Economy Minister’s announcement will be music to the ears of many business owners, who are eager to open the shutters and get back trading.

“FSB played our role, along with trade unions, public health officials and the wider business community, in producing the ‘Working Through This Together’ document, which advises businesses on how to operate safely. Small businesses should refer to this guidance to ensure they protect workers, customers and the general public, making adaptations as necessary, as they re-open.

“At FSB we have made the case throughout the coronavirus crisis that the criteria which determine whether a business can open should be focused on safety, rather than what you sell, or the size of your business.

“We are grateful that the Executive has recognised this principle today and small retailers will be relieved that they will soon be permitted to re-open their business, and play their part in re-starting the economy. We would also urge the public now to get behind our smaller businesses; not just by giving them their custom, but also by respecting the necessary restrictions they will have to put in place in order to operate safely.”

Also commenting on the announcement, 

Commenting, Belfast Chamber Chief Executive Simon Hamilton said, “This is really great news for all of those retailers in Belfast and right across our region who have been closed now for close to 3 months.

Belfast Chamber has been pressing the Executive to set a date for the safe reopening of the sector, so we wholeheartedly welcome today’s announcement as another huge step in the right direction and thank the Executive for listening to business.  

Great news that many more retailers can reopen their doors from this Friday. @BelfastChamber has been pressing the @niexecutive to set a date for more shops to safely start trading again and we thank them for listening to businesses who have been really struggling due to #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/MjFObxI9jm

— Simon Hamilton (@SimonHamilton) June 8, 2020

Many retailers have been working hard over the last number of weeks to get their stores ready to reopen in ways that ensure staff and customer safety and it is great that many more will be able to implement those plans and get going again.

Retail as a sector has been one of the hardest hit by the restrictions introduced to stop the spread of COVID-19.  

They closed down immediately when required and many have had no income whilst costs have continued.  

Reopening will allow more retailers to start trading again after what has been a dark and difficult period for the sector”.