Retailers warn that their staff can’t be expected to enforce new facemasks rule
RETAILERS are saying they should not be expected to enforce the new facemasks rule in shops announced by the Government.
The industry representative group Retail Ireland, a part of Ibec, said they are worried that staff will be subjected to violence and abuse if they try to insist shoppers wear masks before entering shops.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced on Wednesday that the Government’s advice is that people should wear facemasks and coverings in all retail stores. Regulations, with details on enforcement and penalties, are in the process of being drafted by the Department of the Taoiseach.
The wearing of facemasks is already mandatory on public transport.
However, retailers reacted yesterday saying they should not be expected to police the wearing of facemasks, which will be difficult to impose ‘unless the Government makes it mandatory’.
The Retail Grocery Dairy and Allied Trades Association said ‘back up’ will be needed to support staff.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sarah McInerney, Tara Buckley of RGDATA said: ‘Supermarkets have already had to up their security... we would not like the onus to be on the shop to police it.’
She cited examples of situations
‘Leave enforcement to the authorities’
where some retailers have experienced people spitting and fighting in resisting the protocols and safety measures, which led to staff calling gardaí.
Retail Ireland director Arnold Dillon echoed her concerns, telling the Mail: ‘When it comes to enforcement, it is crucial that it does not fall to retail staff to ensure compliance. With incidents of violence and abuse directed at retail staff unfortunately a regular occurrence, it is important that enforcement is left to the appropriate authorities.
‘Retail staff should not be exposed to the potential disputes and discord that might arise.
‘It is vital that there is flexibility when it comes to the application of any new rules for retail staff.
‘Retailers have made enormous efforts to protect staff, who are working all day in retail settings, including putting in place screens around cash registers and counters. This needs to be reflected in the approach.’
The Irish Daily Mail asked the Department of the Taoiseach yesterday who would be responsible for the enforcement of wearing masks in retail spaces since it is not legally mandated, but that question was not answered.
The Department of Health acknowledged yesterday that although it is strongly recommended, the wearing of facemasks in shops ‘is not a legal requirement at present’.
‘Enforcement issues for wearing of face coverings in shops are being considered,’ said the department.
In response to these recommendations, Retail Excellence Ireland said: ‘We support any measures that would prevent a second wave and ensure our members and their customers are protected and can continue to trade in a safe environment. We await further guidance from the Government on the protocols surrounding this.’
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said yesterday that there would be exemptions on who is required to wear masks.
Under the facemasks rules on public transport, children under the age of 13 are exempt from wearing masks as well as those with health complications which would make wearing a mask difficult.
Dr Glynn said: ‘At the moment, there is no recommendation for children under 13 years of age to wear a face covering.
‘There is no plan at this stage to change that.
‘There will always be people who can’t wear them and we need to ensure that they are allowed not to wear them and that they don’t feel compelled to wear them because there are some very valid reasons why some people won’t wear them,’ he said.
He also said that people should be wearing facemasks/coverings wherever physical distancing is difficult to maintain.
He said this included in offices and gyms.
‘We’ve an overarching recommendation that if you are anywhere where you can’t physically distance whether that is an office, a gym, any location where you can’t stay two metres away from someone else, our recommendation is that you should be wearing a face covering.
‘This is not all about what you have to do, it is what people should be doing for their own protection and the protection of others.
He added that he would want to see more and more people wearing facemasks voluntarily.
ronan.smyth@dailymail.ie