Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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46. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the retail crime strategy; the timeline for its publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49135/25]

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

The Programme for Government commits to publishing a Retail Crime Strategy with targeted actions to reduce retail crime and support affected businesses. Work has already commenced on preparing this Strategy.

I recently met with, and heard from, the retail community in this regard. My officials are considering their suggestions in the context of the development of the strategy.

My department organised a targeted stakeholder engagement event with members of the Retail Forum on the Retail Crime Strategy at the start of October. This event centred on discussions around what the strategy may contain and provided an opportunity for stakeholders to inform the ongoing development of a the Retail Crime Strategy.

My department has also undertaken research into how other jurisdictions are tackling such matters to see if we can learn from best practice elsewhere.

A coordinated approach across sectors will be required if strong, tangible actions are to be identified, implemented and achieved within the context of the Retail Crime Strategy.

The Programme for Government also makes a number of other commitments in relation to retail crime. These include:

• Support Garda Operations to tackle retail crime including through the use of organised crime and proceeds of crime legislation.
• Examine the introduction of a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker.
• Tackle the practice of “retail defamation”.
• Improve data sharing between retailers and Gardaí.
• Expand the use of community sanctions for retail crime.
• Update the Public Order Acts to allow a prolific offender to be excluded from a retail premises for a certain period of time.
• Improve data sharing between retailers and Gardaí.

1. Supporting and resourcing ‘Operation Táirge’ which is a dedicated Garda operation aimed at detecting and preventing organised retail crime;
2. Supporting An Garda Síochána: Budget 2026 provides a record allocation of €2.59 billion to An Garda Síochána which will support the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff;
3. 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 stakeholders in the sector. An Garda Síochána provide an update on retail crime matters at each forum.