Top stories in the papers this week 19 -25 November 2011

Plans for hypermarkets leaked in Budget report; Review of rates system under way; Northbound shoppers 'don't feel one bit unpatriotic'

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25 November 2011

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1. Plans for hypermarkets leaked in Budget report

Giant, out-of-town hypermarkets could be on the way,according to the leaked Irish Budget document revealed in the German parliament. The Sunday Independent reports that the lifting of Ireland’s capon the size of retail grocery stores here, which would allow for the construction of hypermarkets, is hidden in the small print of the Budget strategy embarrassingly leaked from the Bundestag.

2. Review of rates system under way

Proposals regarding the evaluation of commercial rates would be brought to Government shortly, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan told the Dáil this week. The Irish Times reports that according to the Minister, a programme of revaluation of all commercial and industrial properties was under way in order to "redistribute commercial rates liabilities among ratepayers based on up-to-date property values".

3. Northbound shoppers ‘don’t feel one bit unpatriotic’

The Irish Independent discovered trade was brisk at The Quays Shopping Centre in Newry, this week, with hundreds of southern-registered cars parked there. The paper reports families from as far away as Cork filled the aisles of Sainsbury’s supermarket. Kildare woman Catherine Velleman said: "We’re being ripped off left, right and centre in the south and I don’t feel one bit unpatriotic about coming up here to shop".

4. Kenny insists no decision has been made on VAT rise

Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted this week that no final decision had been made by the Cabinet on a 2% VAT rise. The Irish Times reports Kenny replied to Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin, who said Finance Minister Michael Noonan stated last
Thursday "that he intended to increase the rate of VAT by 2% in one fell swoop in 2012". Kenny replied that "no decision has been taken by the Government in respect of details of the budget.

5. Action needed on ‘upward only rent reviews’

Serious concern has arisen as a result of Government indecision on legislation relating to upward only rent reviews. The Irish
Independent reports some retailers have expressed concern that the Government may be about to shelve plans for legislation which would allow distressed tenants to secure a rent reduction on pre-2010 leases. A spokesman for Minister Shatter
has said that an announcement will be made soon.

Also:

Our beleaguered retailers need a helping hand, not further blows (Irish Examiner)

http://www.examiner.ie/opinion/columnists/ivan-yates/our-beleaguered-retailers-need-a-helping-hand-not-further-blows-174845.html

Battered retailers pitch rescue plan to Executive (Belfast Telegraph)

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/business-news/battered-retailers-pitch-rescue-plan-to-executive-16081413.html

Door open for hypermarket (Dundalk Democrat)

http://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/local/door_open_for_hypermarket_1_3270973

Rates incentive shot down by unlikely alliance (Connaught Tribune)

http://www.con-telegraph.ie/news/latest-news/2952-rates-incentive-shot-down-by-unlikely-alliance

Will VAT hike lure value-seeking shoppers North? (Irish Times)

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/1122/1224307948553.html

‘Imbalance between dairy producer and seller must be resolved’ (Irish Examiner)