The chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment has launched a scathing attack on Government policy towards small retailers.
Labour TD Willie Penrose - whose family are involved in the retail trade - said there was a 'myriad of strangulation and bureaucracy' at play and it was the intention of Government to get rid of the small retailer.
He said reducing the minimum wage was not the solution to ensuring that struggling retailers survive, as that approach would drive workers into a poverty trap.
He also warned of an impending rural wasteland if small retailers are driven to the wall.
Deputy Penrose was speaking following a presentation from the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association which called for a scrapping of some of the provisions of Labour Court-enforced regulations regarding rates of pay.
Vincent Jennings, CEO of the CSNA, said while the association did not have a problem with the minimum wage per se, it did wish to have certain provisions - such as increased rates on a Sunday and Bank Holidays - revisited.
The CSNA also called for all newly-employed staff to be paid the minimum wage.
