Covid-19: current restrictions must be last, says Derry business chief

The latest set of restrictions has been extremely harsh on businesses, in particular small and independent traders and retailers, who have been forced to shut their doors, says Paul Clancy.

After a difficult Christmas period for local businesses – the time of year when they traditionally do their most business – January has been very difficult for city centre retailers and other businesses which rely heavily on footfall.

Cash reserves are depleted, cash flow is becoming a serious issue for businesses of all shapes and sizes, and they are finding it impossible to plan for the year ahead.

Any plans for investment, hiring, or scaling up are on hold for the first half of the year.

Businesses need the Executive to provide the political leadership and clarity now which will allow them to recover and rebuild as we move into the summer period.

The roll-out of the vaccine gives us the best chance to return to a normal way of life but this will not be done overnight.

The likelihood is that significant restrictions will persevere into the spring at least. The Executive, as matter of urgency, must begin producing a workable, strategic economic recovery plan which will protect jobs, livelihoods and businesses, a plan which involves business and learns from the mistakes of the past ten months.

Business won’t survive another lockdown.

The Executive must do all it can now to ensure that the current restrictions will be the last significant barriers to business and, in the meantime, continue getting vital funds out to companies to keep them afloat and ensure they survive.