Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to speak to the Bill with my colleagues, Deputies Daly and Patricia Ryan. Restorative justice can be a key component of our justice system. It is a way of offering some closure and understanding on the impact of crime to victims and alleged offenders alike. Unfortunately, it remains an underutilised resource within our criminal justice system. It is a system that allows a victim and alleged offender to address and try to repair the damage and harm done by committing an offence. Of course, it is not for everyone. It is crucial the process can only occur with the consent of both parties.

At a meeting of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment today, representatives from bodies representing local grocery stores and newsagents were in attendance. They spoke of the debilitating impact of shoplifting on their members. Representatives of Musgraves spoke of how their members face up to 1,000 shoplifting incidents a week. RGDATA, which represents family-owned business stores, spoke of members incurring costs of up to €40,000. They all spoke of both organised and opportunistic shoplifters, who are often youths who feel they can rob and threaten with impunity. Restorative justice could be used in cases such as that.

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