Mayo convenience store owners urged to take election stand

The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) has published its manifesto demanding change for their members in Mayo.

CSNA is Ireland’s largest independent retailer representative body representing over 1,500 convenience store owners, newsagents and forecourt operators nationwide.

They are actively encouraging their Mayo members to have their collective concerns heard in their stores and on the doorsteps during the election campaign.

CEO Vincent Jennings stated: “This is a great opportunity for our members to have their concerns heard when candidates come knocking for their vote.”

The CSNA manifesto outlines that the proposed Auto-Enrolment Pension rate of 6% is unreasonable and unfair for retailers.

The association has demanded that An Garda Síochána and the judiciary should acknowledge violence against store owners and their staff as a serious offence.

They have criticised the slow pace of the Insurance Reform asking for a reduction in unfair general damages, review and re-balance “the common duty of care”, support a fully-resourced Garda Fraud Unit and insist that insurers commit to a schedule of forecast reductions for planned reforms.

The CSNA challenges the current rates valuation system stating it is unfair to retailers, in particular forecourt retailers.

The national retail representative body suggests there is an urgent need for a root and branch of the anomalies of the existing system.

Jennings commented: “Retailers cannot continue to be used as unpaid tax collectors for the State.”

The powerful association, with members in every constituency across the country, is actively encouraging their members to unite, to use their collective voice effectively and to demand change from their local candidates.