Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I commend her on her tireless advocacy on behalf of citizens and people in Dublin Central. I am fully aware of the issue of retail crime, not just in the constituency of Dublin Central but in the cities and towns throughout Ireland. It is a significant issue for people who are trying to run businesses in those towns and cities. The statistics the Senator identified illustrate that. This is something that is costing small businesses €1.6 billion a year, which is a significant amount.

I assure the Senator that the Government and I are resolute in supporting Garda operations to tackle retail crime, including through considering how we can enhance and perhaps supplement its efforts. From speaking to Assistant Commissioner Cleary in Dublin, I know that he and his staff are very focused on this issue. They are aware that this is not a victimless crime and that something needs to be done to ensure there is enforcement of the law when it comes to shoplifting, which poses a significant threat to the economic welfare of Irish retailers. These incidents do real harm, not only to the business owners but also to their staff, who, as the Senator knows, are in vulnerable positions on many occasions, whether they are working late at night or during the day, if people come in who as well as stealing are threatening violence against them. My Department is developing a retail crime strategy. I am fully aware of the importance of having that strategy in place. However, it is also important to recognise that powers are available that need to be availed of. One of the legislative changes I am considering is updating the public order Acts to allow a prolific offender of retail crime to be excluded from a premises for a period. We have similar barring orders for people who perpetrate or are alleged to have perpetrated acts of domestic violence. In circumstances where someone has been convicted of serial or repeated retail crime, there has to be a strong argument for that person to be kept away from retail areas.

The Senator will also be aware that the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 will come back into the Houses of the Oireachtas, I hope, after Easter. It provides for a defence for retailers called the defence of retail defamation. When that provision has been enacted, there will be much stronger protection for retailers when they identify and confront individuals they allege are shoplifting on their premises. It will, in effect, provide a protection of qualified privilege in circumstances where someone is stopped when leaving a shopping and it is said to them that it is believed they have shoplifted something from the shop. That will provide an occasion of protection for the retailer from a successful claim of defamation, unless it is the case the retailer was motivated by malice or acted disproportionately.

Furthermore, An Garda Síochána is strongly focused on tackling retail crime, including through a dedicated operation already in place - I mentioned assistant commissioner Cleary - called Operation Táirge. Under that operation, gardaí nationwide work on reducing organised retail crime by using an intelligence-led approach to identify criminals engaging in retail crime. The plan involves tackling organised retail crime by using an intelligence-led approach to identify criminals engaging in that crime; working with retailers to strengthen their security and prevent them becoming victims of this criminality; supporting those working in retail to report a crime; identifying and targeting the areas where organised retail crime black markets operate and their leadership; working with high-risk retailers to enhance prevention, investigating and prosecuting; and deterring people from becoming involved in organised retail crime by raising awareness of the consequences of committing such offences. The approach is to disrupt the most prolific groups through the use of organised crime legislation and proceeds of crime legislation. In 2024, the first year of operation, there were 8,460 arrests and 20,000 charge summonses were recorded in association with Operation Táirge. That illustrates the work of An Garda Síochána on the ground.

However, I recognise it is not only about organised retail crime. There is a large volume of lower level, everyday shoplifting that has just as serious an impact on small retailers and staff. Our best and most important resource to tackle it is An Garda Síochána. As the Senator will be aware, we are increasing Garda resources. I am pleased, and I hope the Senator has noticed, that we have an increased presence of gardaí in her area of Dublin 1 or Dublin city centre. I hope that will combat the level of retail crime we are unfortunately seeing.