Vol. 515 No. 6
14 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the working group to review all aspects of Garda training in regard to racism will complete its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6851/00]
In April 1999, the Garda authorities hosted an international conference, co-funded by the EU Commission and the Government, entitled "Providing a Police Service in a Developing Multi-ethnic and Multi-cultural Ireland". The Garda authorities are determined to learn from the experience of other countries in policing a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society. The training currently provided to student and probationer gardaí is being reviewed in the light of the outcomes of this conference.
The working group established to review all aspects of Garda training in this area and to develop best practices in the light of ongoing changes in the policing environment has an ambitious work programme and its activities are ongoing. The group has produced an action plan comprising key elements, including the establishment of a programme focusing on the further development of human rights training in the Garda Síochána and the publication of a revised code of ethics for the Garda Síochána. The group plans to have most of the strands of the action plan in place by December 2000.
A follow-up conference is planned for late October-early November of this year with the aim of exploring and developing human rights in a policing context.
The Garda Human Rights Initiative 1999-2000, Policing and Human Rights: Promoting Best Practice, has, as one of its core tasks, the further development of human rights training at all levels within the organisation, including human rights training in the context of policing in a multiethnic society.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Does the Minister consider it important that all serving gardaí would be required to attend some training in the evolving nature of Irish society and its multi-ethnic core? Will the Minister indicate the number of gardaí who have received that type of training to date, and whether he has plans in that regard?
The working group is in its infancy, relatively speaking, but I take on board Deputy Howlin's view that it would be desirable to provide training for older members of the Garda Síochána to ensure that they are in a position to police a multi-ethnic society. The education being provided to the recruits in the college is excellent and obviously we are in a position to deal with the whole issue of policing a multi-ethnic society within the confines of Templemore. Deputy Howlin's suggestion is desirable, however, and I hope that the working group comes up with further observations which might be favourable.
I thank the Minister again for his reply. Does the Minister also see it as important that, ultimately, the Garda Síochána itself would represent the changing ethnic nature of Irish culture? Has he thought, at this early stage, of any proactive initiatives that will ensure there would be, as we had in the past with gender balances, ethnic balances or at least representative samples of the growing changing ethnicity of this nation in the police force?
It is open to every citizen to apply to become a member of the Garda Síochána irrespective of the person's origin. It is something that I would encourage. I would greatly like to see people who are citizens of the country and who have a different ethnic origin joining the Garda Síochána. Obviously it is open to all citizens to make such an application and it is something I would actively encourage.
