Reacting to news that Sunday trading hours in Belfast are likely to be extended during two weekends this summer, Clare Guinness, CEO at Belfast Chamber, said:
“A proposal to extend Sunday trading hours in Belfast solely during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is not a compromise – it’s a cop-out.
If policymakers recognise the economic opportunity that extended trading can bring during one major international event, then they should recognise the benefits it can deliver every week of the year alongside the greater choice and opportunity it presents for consumers, workers and businesses.
Belfast Chamber’s members – across the wider business community as well as retail, hospitality, and tourism – support modernising Sunday trading laws to help Belfast operate as a genuine seven-day-a-week city. Consumers and visitors increasingly expect flexibility, choice and vibrant city centre experiences throughout the week, yet Belfast continues to be held back by an archaic approach that puts us at a disadvantage when compared to other UK and European cities.
This piecemeal approach sends the wrong message about Belfast’s ambition. We should be creating a more welcoming, accessible and commercially vibrant city every Sunday – not treating modern trading hours as an exception.”