Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Aire to the Upper House. Comhghairdeas to him on his appointment as Minister for Justice. He has been a breath of fresh air since taking office. His hands-on approach to the bread-and-butter issues of justice in our communities and throughout our country is welcome. I wish him well in his role. He has a big task ahead.

I am seeking an update on the Department's work on the production of a retail crime strategy. The Minister will be aware that the CSO recorded a 12% increase in thefts last year. Forty-six per cent of that increase came from retail. Those thefts were from retail establishments. We are talking about the small Spar, Londis, Centra and local corner shop, as well as the Dunnes Stores, Tesco and Lidl on our high street. Shop owners and shop workers are being threatened on a daily basis. They face racism, sexism and verbal and physical assaults. It is not an overstatement to point to the fact that many shop owners in Dublin had to employ security staff wearing bodycams before gardaí in Dublin were wearing bodycams. That is an indication of where safety in the retail space stands.

I know the Minister is aware of this and that he appreciates this is not a victimless crime. It is estimated that apart from the personal human impact on individuals working, owning and trying to operate these establishments, and on their customers and the communities they serve, there is a financial cost. The estimated cost is €1.6 billion per year. That is an enormous amount of money to be losing in the context of investment in our economy and community. RGDATA represents more than 3,500 individual, family-owned SuperValus, Spars and Centras, which are the shops where people buy a bottle of milk or a sliced pan. They are there early in the morning when we go to work and late at night when we go home. RGDATA estimates that theft is costing them, on average, €40,000 a year. That is €40,000 they have to find before they pay for stock, rent, insurance, electricity or staff. It is an enormous amount of money that is making many of these businesses struggle for viability.

I know the Minister gets this. I hope he has come to the House with an update for us on his Department's work to develop and produce a retail crime strategy, which is urgently needed.