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LAST UPDATE | 31 Mar 2021
CHILDREN’S SHOES ARE to be added to the essential retail list.
The move was announced by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly today, who said that children’s shoe shops “need to be opened immediately”.
Taoiseach Michéal Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar have also confirmed that to buy children’s shoes people will need to make appointments online or over the phone.
Varadkar told the Dáil that the advice announced today is currently being worked on.
Guidance from government is expected on the issue soon.
Speaking to the News at One on RTÉ One, Donnelly said that he had listened to some of the doctors speaking on the issue and the medical implications of not having the right shoes for children’s growing feet.
“I am clearly of the view that they need to be added to the essential retail list, specifically for children’s shoes. The acting Chief Medical Officer [Ronan Glynn] and I have spoken about it this morning and it is something I fully support and want to see implemented immediately.”
Earlier today The Journal broke the news that the new plans were set to be announced, as government wanted to ensure that children who require new shoes are able to get the right shoes for their requirements.
Today’s announcement from Donnelly comes after calls for change from parents and doctors on the issue.
Yesterday a number of parents spoke to The Journal about issues around purchasing children’s shoes – particularly children who need splints due to muscle tone issues.
Last night, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had told RTÉ Prime Time that children’s shoes “are essential”, and that he had “heard some instances of children who need special medical footwear”.
“I think we’ll need to look at that if there’s a particular condition they have”,” he said last night.
The parents who spoke to The Journal yesterday said that while they understood shoe shops might not be able to be opened for casual browsing, they were hoping the government could allow shoe shops to open for appointments.
One parent, June Shannon, said yesterday:
You can buy Easter eggs and cuddly toys for Easter but you can’t buy shoes for your children. It seems to me to be ridiculous.
Another parent, Jen Mitchell, told us about how she needs to purchase shoes that can fit an AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) for her daughter who has mobility issues. The shoe needs to be large enough to accommodate the AFO, which makes measurement very tricky.
She said that with the AFOs, it’s harder to judge the growth of children’s feet and when a new pair of shoes is needed. Though she bought a pair of shoes in a larger size before Christmas for her daughter, she already needs a new pair.
“I assumed all shops were closed,” said Mitchell yesterday. “It’s this lack of messaging [that is the issue]. It’s hard enough for people to buy shoes, but for people whose kids are in AFOs, not knowing and not having clarity as to whether they can make an appointment at a shoe shop [is difficult].”
Click-and-collect
Yesterday, during the latest update on Covid-19 restrictions, it was announced that the ban on click-and-collect will continue until May.
Retailers have said they are disappointed with this news. Speaking today, Duncan Graham from Retail Excellence said that as time has gone on, the restrictions on ‘non-essential’ retail have become more restrictive.
“Inevitably once you get to a point where you’ve gone through what amounts to three months [of lockdown], it will be four months by the time we get out of this,” he said. “The line between what’s essential and non-essential gets very blurred. It’s all very well and good in January saying clothing and children’s footwear is non-essential. It’s a different message altogether at the end of March when we’ve been locked down for 12 weeks, that is now essential at that point.”
He added: “On one hand you have got the consumer demand and on the other hand you have got retailers who are desperate to get open. It’s very evident at the moment that who is essential and non-essential piece is starting to unravel. Unless there is some give from government or some further clarity from government, it only starts to get more difficult as weeks go on.”
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“British Isles” ? seriously Journal. Time to move on!
Not that I like it either…. but it is a geographic term, not a political term.
“These Islands” is more neutral. About the only genuinely neutral thing about any of them.
The British Isles is not a recognised political or geographical term
@Awkward Seal: it’s a perfectly fine geographical term. The only issue with it is that it makes some Irish people get hysterical.
@Damocles: So if it makes ‘some’ Irish people hysterical, that’s OK?
@Paul Culligan: yes. People just need to calm down. Smell the cake, blow on the pizza.
@Paul Culligan: it helps sell rags and clickbait the keyboard warriors
The proposed legislation is written in a manner that is designed to be abused. The minister’s justification for the legislation has been undermined to the extent that only sucking up to the UK is left. The Minister is intent on securing rights for Foreign fishing vessels along the Irish foreshore and ignoring the Irish fishing industry and coastal communities. A Minister that is not for the Irish fishing industry is against it. Minister Creed should resign over this. This marine department would have successfully disowned our natural resources were it not for the successful appeal by the fishermen in the Supreme Court. Irish resources for Irish vessels. We have some of the best fishing grounds in Europe so let’s find a Minister with ability to deliver for the Irish fishing industry.
Our government rushed this bill to the dail to keep on the British governments good side , without holding any meetings to consult with the Irish fishermen the actual people that will be affected if it was passed. Already our fishing grounds are on a lot of stress and letting more access to them from northern boats would see the demise of a lot of them which would only recover by reducing fishing effort . When all go to shite which it will because our government is trying to please Britain and the eu , who will compensate the Irish fisherman with big boat mortgages ?? Nobody there is no compensation of decommissioning plan in place for the vessels, the will f**k us over and say tough shite.
The EU is sinking and Ireland wont float!!
@Trump Re[Loaded]: lol you need to stop watching RT or Breitbart. sad,
I bet the EU will hand them over to the Spainish now?
Fishing being a natural resource is vitally important and should not be abused. First and foremost the Minister must fight the ROI fishing sector corner first , last and always. Everything else is noise and an unwelcome distraction from securing the best deal for Irish boats. If deals are to be done with the northern fleet or the U.K. fleet it must be done on the basis of reciprocity where Ireland does not lose out. So sit tight, keep calm and await the outcome of PM May’s negotiations on Brexit ; there will be all sorts of opportunities and Ireland with its “cute hoor” mentality is ideally suited to exploiting any confusion from the Brexit fallout. Tight lines !
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