The Irish trade body for convenience stores has claimed that unfair minimum wages will lead to a 'retail wasteland'.

Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) chief executive Vincent Jennings told an Irish government committee that the minimum wage for convenience stores is currently 19% higher than the regular minimum wage (8.65p/h) and that this prevents retailers from lowering prices for consumers.

According to Jennings, wages currently make up 60% of business costs and a "level playing field" is needed to guard against job losses and businesses closing. The CSNA estimates that 12 newsagents and c-stores close in Ireland every week and that by the end of the year 600 stores will have closed at a cost of over 7,000 jobs.