Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses for taking the time to come in today. I am conscious that it is obviously a very busy time of the year, but it is also timely that they are here, particularly in light of what happened three weeks ago tomorrow in Dublin city centre. That was rioting and looting, but the issue of shoplifting and attacks on shops is not just confined to Dublin. It is right across the country, and it is not a new issue.

I want to pick up on something Mr. O'Driscoll mentioned about his staff. We know that in many shops across the country there are a very high number of migrant staff. We know they are being particularly singled out for threats, intimidation and attack. It is important that Mr. O'Driscoll said that this morning. Mandate Trade Union, which represent many retail workers, has been consistently calling for laws. I am hearing a call from most of the witnesses for a change in the criminal justice system. Mr. Jennings had a line about it, but I think people are ultimately calling for changes to sentencing. It is just to be clear on that.

I really want to ask this morning about the witnesses' engagement with gardaí, particularly those retailers in Dublin because that is where I know the gardaí, but also around the rest of the country. Do retailers have regular conversations at chief superintendent, superintendent or inspector level with their local gardaí? Have gardaí been assigned to retailers, particularly where they experience a high number of incidents? I have worked with other shopkeepers and not necessarily in the inner city. I am thinking of one big meeting in Glasnevin where everybody was up in arms about a number of incidents relating to a shop. Has a business watch scheme ever been offered, particularly to those retailers in the inner city? We have a context now where we have fewer gardaí than before in the inner city. We have a dramatic drop in community policing. Juvenile liaison officers have been at a practical standstill over the past five years. What initiatives has the Garda taken to reach out to retailers to try to prevent crime? There is a conversation about what happens when incidents happen, but it is about the prevention piece or at least working closely with the retailers to reduce the number of incidents. That question is to Mr. Dunne and Mr. O'Driscoll, in particular, but also, of course, to all the witnesses.