THE GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE to pass legislation on upward-only rent reviews is hobbling the retail, commercial and SME sectors, a new lobbying group has claimed.
A dozen various trade and industry bodies have formed a new umbrella group to demand action from the Government.
A spokesman for the group said:
The Government might think this problem has gone away, but uit hasn’t. Many small businesses and retailers are still struggling to cope with high rents which, when combined with low levels of consumer spending, puts their very survival on the line.
The spokesman told TheJournal.ie that one member of the group has obtained a legal opinion to the effect that it would be constitutional for the government to pass legislation on the matter.
This is in contradiction to advice supplied the Government by Attorney General Marie Whelan, the spokesman said.
He continued: “We are demanding that the Government honour its commitment in the Programme for Government and enact legislation to deal with the legacy issue of upward only rent reviews.”
Membership
The group includes representatives from the Small Firms Association, The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, Retail Excellence Ireland, and the Commercial Tenants Association.
They are urging the Government to allow a free vote in the Dail on Senator Fergal Quinn’s bill on the matter, and for the legislation to be referred to the supreme court to test its constitutionality if it is passed.
Senator Quinn is understood to have met with the group last week.
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