Covid-19: Big retail told to stop non-essential trade

A Stormont minister has warned larger retailers in NI to "step up" and stop selling non-essential items during the lockdown.

It comes after criticism of some retail chains who have been allowed to stay open, whilst smaller stores are closed.

Naomi Long said larger stores needed to "do the right thing".

Ministers will meet with business representatives from bigger stores later on Friday about the issue.

The discussions, involving the first and deputy first ministers, will also examine the issue of staffing practices, click and collect and the use of face coverings in stores.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan Show on Friday, Mrs Long said she hoped agreement could be reached voluntarily with the retail sector.

"We saw the difficulties in other places where they tried to define what was essential and what wasn't," said the justice minister.

She cited what happened during the lockdown in Wales, which led to criticism after supermarkets were told by law not to sell certain items.

"We need to go further - if stores don't step up and do this on a voluntary basis we will have to find ways in regulations to stop it," she said.

"It's not one store or one product line, it's a wider issue we're trying to work through."

Asked whether some stores should be allowed to sell hot tubs during the lockdown, Mrs Long said just because shops were selling certain products, did not mean people should buy them.

"Just because it's there doesn't mean you should do it - don't buy the hot tub, don't do those things at the moment," she said.

Representatives from a number of large stores have been invited to take part in the meeting with Stormont ministers later on Friday.

They include Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Lidl, IKEA and Marks and Spencer.

Earlier this week the First Minister Arlene Foster said some larger firms had been behaving in a selfish way.

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said there was "huge resentment" among NI's independent retailers because of a "lack of a level-playing field".

"Family-owned independent retailers are forced to close with no click-and-collect yet they see the large supermarkets continue to virtually trade as normal," he said.

"That situation has to be addressed".

Northern Ireland is in the third week of a six-week lockdown, with ministers scheduled to review the measures next week.

However health officials have warned that an extension of the restrictions could be required to reduce pressure on the health service.

The first and deputy first ministers said they would take evidence from health officials before deciding whether an extension of the lockdown would be required.

On Thursday it was announced that passengers arriving into NI from outside the UK and Republic of Ireland will soon have to produce a negative Covid-19 test before departure.