Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Shoplifting is obviously a matter for the courts. Some decisions are taken where there is post-monitoring, or areas that certain individuals cannot go into after they have been prosecuted. More broadly, retail theft is up approximately 14% since the Covid pandemic. That is why we are working with the Department of enterprise; with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond; and closely with An Garda Síochána on a new retail theft operation. Operation Táirge was launched this week. It will operate on the same premise as Operation Thor, which has seen a 75% reduction in burglaries in rural areas over the winter months. We obviously hope it will have a similar effect and reduce theft in retail shops overall.

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