Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 707: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views regarding a matter (details supplied); the actions in proposing to address the issues stated; the meetings he has had or is proposing to have with the representative groups representing such businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24170/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In the correspondence referred to by the Deputy, it is suggested that business owners should have a legal right to exercise their discretion in refusing entry to their premises to shoplifters. Business owners may reserve the right of admission to their premises where there are valid, non-discriminatory grounds for so doing. Business owners providing goods and services are, however, prohibited under the Equal Status Acts 2000-2008 from discriminating on nine grounds in providing a service or in disposing of goods to the public generally or to a section of the public. They are not precluded under equality legislation from refusing access to goods and services where they are of the belief, on grounds other than discriminatory grounds, that to do so would produce a substantial risk of criminal or disorderly conduct or behaviour or damage to property. The discriminatory grounds under this legislation are gender, civil status, family status, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion and membership of the Traveller community. I am not considering any change to the equality legislation in this regard. Businesses wishing to understand and implement best practice in promoting equality in their sector may, however, seek advice from the Equality Authority.