RGDATA calls on new Justice Minister to tackle retail crime and costs
Representing more than 3,500 grocery and convenience store owners across Ireland, RGDATA is seeking urgent government action on retail crime, rising insurance costs, and defamation law reforms
Print26 February 2025
Tara Buckley, director general of RGDATA, has written to new Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan setting out three key issues that he needs to address as a matter of urgency.
The three key issues outlined in the letter are implementing the PFG promises to tackle retail crime; do not approve Judicial Council call for a 17% increase in personal injury payouts and reform the retail defamation bill to provide the necessary support for local retailers and their staff.
Representing more than 3,500 grocery and convenience store owners across Ireland, RGDATA is seeking urgent government action on retail crime, rising insurance costs, and defamation law reforms.
Buckley highlighted the growing problem of retail crime, including shoplifting, assaults, weapon attacks, and aggravated robberies, which occur daily in community shops and supermarkets.
While welcoming commitments in the Programme for Government to address crime, she stressed the need for rapid implementation of specific measures aimed at protecting retailers and their staff.
“We are very keen to see rapid progress in the implementation of the specific commitments in the Programme as they apply to our sector,” Buckley noted.
The Programme for Government measures build on the commitments to tackle retail crime made by Jim O’Callaghan’s predecessor, Minister Helen McEntee at a meeting with retailers in December 2024.
Judicial Council
A second major concern raised in the letter is the recent recommendation from the Judicial Council to increase personal injury awards by 17%.
Buckley described this as unacceptable, arguing that high court awards and legal costs already burden retailers, “shopkeepers are astounded that the Judicial Council would even think that such a suggestion is appropriate given the current excessive level of court awards and associated legal costs”
She criticised insurers for failing to pass on savings from previous government reforms and urged the Minister to reject the recommendation, focusing instead on ensuring that insurance companies reduce premiums rather than continue what she calls “price gouging” of the sector.
Buckley noted: “We urge you to reject this recommendation and instead focus measures on getting insurance companies to pass on the benefits of all the reforms instead of pocketing huge profits for themselves.”
Defamation Bill
The final issue addressed is the Defamation Bill, which Buckley argued does not sufficiently protect local retailers and their staff from defamation claims when they act to safeguard their stock and property. She called for urgent legal reforms to prevent businesses from facing unjust reputational and financial harm.
RGDATA has offered to meet with the Minister at his earliest convenience to discuss these pressing matters and explore solutions to support Ireland’s retail sector.
Read more: RGDATA urges Government review on electricity charges impacting retailers
Related Articles
Theft offences up 7% in Recorded Crime Q3 2024 →
Fans 0
Followers