Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures he is taking to tackle retail crime and how these measures are being rolled out in towns across Kerry. [24782/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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This Government takes any risk to retailers and their staff very seriously. As Minister I am acutely aware of the personal and economic impact that retail crime is having on businesses, shop workers, families and communities. Retail theft is not a victimless crime.

In December 2023, Garda Operation Táirge commenced. It aims to prevent and detect Organised Retail Crime as part of An Garda Síochána’s Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy. It is led by the Organised Retail Crime Tasking and Co-ordination Group within An Garda Síochána and supports each Garda region to monitor and respond to emerging trends in their area.Operation Táirge is supported by extensive engagement with retailers. The Garda National Crime Prevention Unit (GNCPU) engages with retail stakeholders frequently to assist with various queries and provide assistance. The GNCPU hosts a bi-annual Retail Forum.

Under ‘Operation Táirge’ Gardaí nationwide work on reducing organised retail crime by using an intelligence-led approach to identify criminals engaging in retail crime. The approach is to disrupt the most prolific groups through the use of organised crime legislation and proceeds of crime legislation and by working with retailers to help strengthen their security. Across 2024, the first year of the operation, 8,460 Arrests and 20,052 charge/summons were recorded in association with Operation Táirge.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment holds a Retail Forum on a quarterly basis with retailers and representative bodies, hosted by the Minister of State with responsibility for Small Businesses and Retail. This provides an opportunity to discuss key issues of importance with key stakeholders in the sector. An Garda Síochána is typically asked to provide an update on retail crime matters at each meeting.

Last week, on 7 May 2025, I and my colleague Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Alan Dillon T.D., hosted a Retail Forum which focussed on Retail Crime Prevention. Forum members shared their experiences of retail crime and its impact on their businesses, staff and customers. Members of An Garda Síochána also provided an update to the Forum on its dedicated operations targeted at retail crime including the ongoing ‘Operation Táirge’.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine the introduction of a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker. The development of legislation is a complex task which requires consideration of all the potential implications of any change to the law. Work to progress the commitments within the Programme has commenced and I look forward to delivering on the Justice agenda contained within the Programme.