Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
364. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the development of a Retail Crime Strategy, in line with the Programme for Government commitment; the expected timeline for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48814/26]
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, retail 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 relating to retail crime, many of which will be dealt with in the context of the Retail Crime Strategy, which is also a commitment under the Programme. 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;
• 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.
Work on the Strategy is well advanced and I expect to receive a draft in the coming weeks for detailed consideration. I look forward to engaging with its proposed objectives, priorities and recommendations to ensure that the final Strategy reflects the priorities of the Government and the needs of retailers, workers and communities. Following this process and subject to final approval, it is my intention to publish the Strategy later this year.
Furthermore it should be noted that my Department’s work in relation to community safety, youth justice interventions and antisocial behaviour, as well as securing funding for more Garda recruitment for high visibility policing, will also contribute to the aim of supporting retailers, their staff and their customers.
