Gilmore calls on Taoiseach to support Labour's plan to reduce commercial rent

Posted on March 09, 2010 at 06:26 PM

Throughout the country retail businesses are being pushed to the wall having been locked into leases which were negotiated in better and more promising times.

The issue of upward rent reviews was raised during Leaders' Questions this morning in advance of the same issue being debated in Private Members' Time this evening in the Dáil.

The Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore TD urged the Taoiseach to support the Labour Party Private Members' Motion which will allow the downward revision of commercial rents.

Eamon said: "In every shopping street and centre in the country, retail businesses are pushed to the wall. They are trying to get costs down, custom through the door, to survive and to keep people in employment.

"One major problem many such businesses face is that they have been locked into leases negotiated in much better and promising times.

"Instead of putting up obstacles and telling us why he cannot do it, will the Taoiseach join us and other parties in this House in doing something positive today?

You can see the full exchange on the Oireachtas website and we will be posting our members' contributions on the blog as Private Members' takes place. If you're interested in watching the Private Members' debate live, you can do so at the following link (the debate will take place from 7.30pm Tuesday, March 9th and from 7pm on Wednesday, March 10th).

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