Retail Excellence will today tell the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment that the pandemic has "decimated" the sector.
The organisation, which represents 2,000 retailers in Ireland, will outline the challenges facing the industry as a result of the pandemic.
Speaking ahead of the committee, CEO of Retail Excellence Duncan Graham said that despite the reopening of non-essential retail on 17 May, businesses are still suffering the effects of their prolonged closure during lockdown.
He said many of the retailers that are still trading, face a "monumental" challenge in terms of meeting their rent obligations. "The industry needs some form of a rent amnesty in order to pick itself off the ground," he said.