Louth TD calls for urgent passing of legislation to protect retail staff

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Paula Butterly has called for legislation to be passed to protect retail workers against abuse and assaults. 

Deputy Butterly called for the creation of a distinct criminal offence for targeting retail workers. 

She said retail workers must be supported and protected if "we want our towns and cities to thrive". 

The Protection of Retail Workers Act 2025 was introduced in the Seanad earlier this year. 

“At busy shopping times, like Christmas, retailers are rightly concerned about the safety of their staff."

"Recently a survey found nearly two thirds of those surveyed in the retail and bar work sector suffered verbal abuse and a quarter have received threats to their physical safety," she said. 

Read Next: Chef and co-owner of The Cathedral restaurant in Dundalk shares his passion for cooking

The Fine Gael TD said similar legal safeguards were introduced in Scotland in 2021, and have led to more than 500 convictions between its introduction and 2023. 

“We want people to shop local and come to our city and towns centres right across the country. But we need our retail workers to feel safe if we want to rejuvenate our town and city centres," she said. 

Deputy Butterly called for engagement between retail workers, businesses, Gardaí and government to ensure the legislation is introduced.