Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
754. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the plans to progress legislation creating a specific offence for assaults or abuse against retail workers, in light of increasing reports of threats and verbal abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6219/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government takes any risk to retailers and retail staff very seriously. I am acutely aware of the personal and economic impact that retail crime is having on businesses, shop workers, and communities. I recognise that shoplifting and organised retail crime pose a significant threat to the economic welfare of Irish retailers and that retail theft is not a victimless crime.
The Programme for Government makes a number of commitments in relation to retail crime, many of which are being examined in the context of the Retail Crime Strategy.
These include:
• Support Garda Operations to tackle retail crime including through the use of organised crime and proceeds of crime legislation.
• Examine the introduction of a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker.
• Tackle the practice of “retail defamation”.
• Improve data sharing between retailers and Gardaí.
• Introduce a new grant scheme for anti-theft and prevention measures.
• Expand the use of community sanctions for retail crime.
• Update the Public Order Acts to allow a prolific offender to be excluded from a retail premises for a certain period of time.
I would note that there is specific legislation already in place to deal with assaults. In the case of assault causing serious harm, an offender can be prosecuted under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 which deals comprehensively with a wide range of assault provisions, the more serious of which carry heavy penalties. That Act provides for penalties of up to 10 years in prison for an offence of assault causing harm and for a penalty of life imprisonment for an offence of causing serious harm. This general law relating to assault has application to all citizens, including retail workers.
In May 2025, I met with the Retail Forum and heard from members regarding their experiences of retail crime and how it can inform work on the Retail Crime Strategy. In October 2025, my Department organised a targeted stakeholder engagement event with members of the Retail Forum on the Retail Crime Strategy. This event centred on discussions around what the strategy may contain and provided an opportunity for stakeholders to inform the ongoing development of the strategy. My officials are considering their suggestions and I plan to finalise the strategy in the coming months.
