Press

The Department of Finance has today announced a review of the non-domestic rating system in Northern Ireland.

Launching the review, Sue Gray Permanent Secretary at the Department of Finance said: “In recent years significant changes have taken place in our high streets and town centres. It is critical from a business perspective, as well as a government funding perspective, that our rating system is capable of responding to this wider process of change. That’s why today I am announcing a full and comprehensive review of business rates.

Retail NI has welcomed the Which? study as a major wake up call to Government. The study shows that a transaction charge has been imposed on over 1700 ATM’ across the UK in the first three months of this year and that more is coming.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

“Retail NI is completely opposed to the imposition of these transaction charges. It is blatantly unfair to independent retailers and their customers”

Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster and Manufacturing NI have welcomed the new political talks to restore the Assembly and other institutions. The three business groups also called for a fourth strand on the economy to include key civic society organisations.

In a joint statement the Chief Executives of the three organisations, Glyn Roberts, Colin Neill and Stephen Kelly said:

Reacting to the decision of the Competition and Markets Authority to block the proposed merger of Asda and Sainsbury’s, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

“This was the right decision by the CMA. From a competition, consumer and supplier perspective, this proposed merger would have been a bad deal”

“Many local suppliers to the grocery sector were extremely concerned that this merger would result in a significant reduction in trade”