Shops and retailers are urging officials not to leave them “in the firing line” when it comes to mandatory face coverings.

The Government has announced that coverings must now be worn in all shops and shopping centres; however, officials have admitted that it will take time to draft regulations enforcing the rule.

Officials said the strong advice is for people to follow the guidance immediately.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Vincent Boland, head of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association said it essential that shopkeepers are not left to police the rules.

“We have been incredibly responsible as a sector,” he said. “We were the first, because we were essential services to be providing groceries, beverages and newspapers to the public.

“We want to continue to act as responsibly so we will most certainly, whatever regulations are being provided to us, we will make sure that we adhere to them

“But we want to say very clearly that we are going to allow for this but we shouldn’t be expected to police it.

“We need the public to know that it’s not our job to police these matters. That is a matter for the regulatory authority not the shop owner.”

Shoppers wearing face masks on a busy Henry Street in Dublin city centre. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

He said the minister must sit down with all the representative bodies form the sector to set out a clear plan for coverings moving forward.

“We need to define what it is that is being sought and who is obligated to carry those guidelines out,” he said.

“There are practical difficulties as well. For instance, sometimes a product is consumed in advance of payment such as at a petrol station. So, if someone fills their car with petrol or diesel and tries to come into the shop but is precluded from coming in because they don’t have a facemask, how does that play out?”

Retail Ireland also warned that staff should not be left to enforce the new rules.

Director Arnold Dillon said: “With incidents of violence and abuse directed at retail staff unfortunately a regular occurrence, it is important that enforcement is left to the appropriate authorities.

“Retail staff should not be exposed to the potential disputes and discord that might arise.”

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly arriving for the first Cabinet meeting in Dublin Castle, 29-06-2020. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

The Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told Newstalk Breakfast this morning that officials would “work with the Gardaí and the various groups who would be responsible for the sector” in drafting the regulations.

He said the country has ‘done so well so far’ without enforcement because we have ‘stood together and acted together.’

“It will hopefully not be a case of having to understand 'how do we enforce this, or how do we enforce that.' We all know that have a responsibility.”

"I believe we all trust the public health advice. So, the advice from today is, when you go into that petrol station or into that shop, just put on the face covering.”

A woman wearing a face mask on Dublin's O'Connell Street this morning, 06-04-2020. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Meanwhile, Mr Boland also said that, if masks are to be mandatory, the Government must remove the 23% VAT charge on their sale.

“For every €5 spent on a face mask, €1 is going back to the State,” he said. “We could be providing face masks to customers and society in general at a 25% discount if there was no VAT on it. It doesn’t make sense.”

You can listen back to the full interview here: