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26/11/2008
Booze News Isn't Good For Donegal
The move by the British Government to cut VAT from 17.5% to 15% will be the 'final nail in the coffin' for many bars, nightclubs and off-licences in the border county of Donegal.
That's according to the Irish Vintners Association, which claims that more and more people will now cross the border to buy alcohol, as it will be so much cheaper.
President of the Irish Vintners Association, Val Hanley, said off-licences will suffer the most - especially coming up to Christmas - as it's already much cheaper to buy alcohol across the border.
A local Senator has even urged shoppers to "be patriotic" and do their shopping locally, as opposed to across the border in Northern Ireland.
Sligo Fianna Fail Senator, Marc McSharry, said he accepts that shoppers will seek out value for money, but says measures need to be taken to ensure there is value for money in the South of Ireland as well.
Addressing the matter in the Seanad earlier this week, Senator McSharry said there was genuine concern at possible job losses within the business sector locally and said that a campaign needs to be launched to encourage people to support their local shops.
And as Donegal banks experience an unprecedented run on Sterling, a Donegal TD Joe McHugh has also slammed the VAT rate cut and predicted that it is going to destroy small businesses on the border.
Deputy McHugh said that considering the fact that 40% of shoppers in the North are from the Republic, the new rate may well lead to job losses across the region.
The Deputy said business owners across the North West face tough times ahead.
The comments came amid news that he banks are said to be running out of sterling - such is the demand from shoppers flooding into Northern Ireland.
In the border town of Buncrana in Co Donegal, just eight kilometres from Derry, branches of the Bank of Ireland and AIB Bank are reported to be struggling to keep up with the increased demand for the British currency in recent weeks.
Already, shopkeepers in the town are predicting their worst Christmas ever.
See: Shadow Chancellor Criticises 'Tax Bombshell Budget'
See: 'North' Is The Place To 'Spend' Christmas
(BMcC)
That's according to the Irish Vintners Association, which claims that more and more people will now cross the border to buy alcohol, as it will be so much cheaper.
President of the Irish Vintners Association, Val Hanley, said off-licences will suffer the most - especially coming up to Christmas - as it's already much cheaper to buy alcohol across the border.
A local Senator has even urged shoppers to "be patriotic" and do their shopping locally, as opposed to across the border in Northern Ireland.
Sligo Fianna Fail Senator, Marc McSharry, said he accepts that shoppers will seek out value for money, but says measures need to be taken to ensure there is value for money in the South of Ireland as well.
Addressing the matter in the Seanad earlier this week, Senator McSharry said there was genuine concern at possible job losses within the business sector locally and said that a campaign needs to be launched to encourage people to support their local shops.
And as Donegal banks experience an unprecedented run on Sterling, a Donegal TD Joe McHugh has also slammed the VAT rate cut and predicted that it is going to destroy small businesses on the border.
Deputy McHugh said that considering the fact that 40% of shoppers in the North are from the Republic, the new rate may well lead to job losses across the region.
The Deputy said business owners across the North West face tough times ahead.
The comments came amid news that he banks are said to be running out of sterling - such is the demand from shoppers flooding into Northern Ireland.
In the border town of Buncrana in Co Donegal, just eight kilometres from Derry, branches of the Bank of Ireland and AIB Bank are reported to be struggling to keep up with the increased demand for the British currency in recent weeks.
Already, shopkeepers in the town are predicting their worst Christmas ever.
See: Shadow Chancellor Criticises 'Tax Bombshell Budget'
See: 'North' Is The Place To 'Spend' Christmas
(BMcC)
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13 November 2009
Border Traders 'Gift' Shoppers
Shopkeepers in Dundalk, Co Louth, are launching a new gift card scheme to try to stem the flow of shoppers into the North. The North East town is among the locations worst hit since the Government increased VAT in the Republic of Ireland to 21.5% while the rate in the North has fallen to 15%.
Border Traders 'Gift' Shoppers
Shopkeepers in Dundalk, Co Louth, are launching a new gift card scheme to try to stem the flow of shoppers into the North. The North East town is among the locations worst hit since the Government increased VAT in the Republic of Ireland to 21.5% while the rate in the North has fallen to 15%.
30 October 2009
Border Shoppers 'Pay To Park'
Shopping centres in border areas of the North have introduced parking fees to cope with the huge influx of Republic shoppers over the Christmas period.
Border Shoppers 'Pay To Park'
Shopping centres in border areas of the North have introduced parking fees to cope with the huge influx of Republic shoppers over the Christmas period.
24 April 2009
Cost Of Cross Border Shopping Again Underlined
While this week's UK Budget increase in the cost of alcohol will allow limited relief for the retail trade in the border counties of Ireland, the huge level of trade already being lost north has been confirmed. Northern Ireland's economy was boosted by around €500m (£450m) last year just from Southern shoppers in grocery outlets.
Cost Of Cross Border Shopping Again Underlined
While this week's UK Budget increase in the cost of alcohol will allow limited relief for the retail trade in the border counties of Ireland, the huge level of trade already being lost north has been confirmed. Northern Ireland's economy was boosted by around €500m (£450m) last year just from Southern shoppers in grocery outlets.
21 April 2009
Tesco 'Missing Out' On Cross-Border Shoppers
Tesco - while making £billions in the UK - is having a harder time in the Republic of Ireland. According to an internal memo obtained by a grocery trade journal, Tesco is being forced to cut prices in the Republic, and the supermarket giant is concerned that like-for-like sales are "well below expectations".
Tesco 'Missing Out' On Cross-Border Shoppers
Tesco - while making £billions in the UK - is having a harder time in the Republic of Ireland. According to an internal memo obtained by a grocery trade journal, Tesco is being forced to cut prices in the Republic, and the supermarket giant is concerned that like-for-like sales are "well below expectations".
09 December 2008
Southern Shoppers NI Trade Bonanza
The tills are ringing out for Christmas as southern shoppers continue to flock north. As much as 50% of shop sales in Northern Ireland's border towns and main cities are from people travelling from the Republic to spend, spend, spend.
Southern Shoppers NI Trade Bonanza
The tills are ringing out for Christmas as southern shoppers continue to flock north. As much as 50% of shop sales in Northern Ireland's border towns and main cities are from people travelling from the Republic to spend, spend, spend.
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Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
