Call for urgent meeting with retailers as supermarkets warn of more disruption to NI food supplies
Last updated 13th Jan 2021
The Stormont Executive is to have an urgent meeting with retail leaders to address concerns over reports some shops are not properly following lockdown guidelines.
Deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, said: "In terms of the retailers we want to talk to them about the things we've already identified to be problems - the fact that the smaller retailers have stayed closed - they're doing the right thing - they're working to the spirit and the letter of the regulations.
"Whereas we know other bigger stores are perhaps not doing that so that is something we are actively looking at and why we want to meet with the retailers in that roundtable forum."
Meanwhile, supermarkets are warning there will be more disruption to Northern Ireland's food supplies - without urgent government intervention.
Bosses of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Iceland, Co-Op, and Marks & Spencer - have all written to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove.
Since Brexit kicked in, some shops here have been struggling to keep shelves filled.
A UK Government spokesperson said: "A new dedicated team in Government has already been set up and will be working with supermarkets, the food industry and the Northern Ireland Executive to develop ways to streamline the movement of goods in accordance with the protocol.''
Northern Ireland is following some of the EU's rules to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.
It is part of the protocol which the UK agreed with Europe.
The UK Government added: "The grace period for supermarkets and their suppliers is working well, goods continue to flow effectively between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and we are working intensively with industry as new requirements come in.''
Hauliers are spending tens of thousands of pounds bringing empty lorries back to Northern Ireland after outbound deliveries, an industry spokesman has said.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said, "A small number of our products are temporarily unavailable for our customers in Northern Ireland while border arrangements are confirmed.
"We were prepared for this and so our customers will find a wide range of alternative products in our stores in the meantime and we are working hard to get back to our full, usual range soon.''