Finian McGrath
Question:663 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the rise in racist incidents in certain areas; and his plans to deal with this issue. [15395/03]
Written Answers. - Crime Levels.
The Garda Síochána is the body responsible for dealing with the investigation and detection of criminal matters, which includes racially motivated crime, and investigates thoroughly all such matters reported to it. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda racial and intercultural office was established in 2001 to liaise, monitor and advise on issues relating to interculturalism. Furthermore, 145 gardaí have been appointed ethnic liaison officers in districts and divisions around the country. The role of these officers is to liaise with leaders of the ethnic communities and to inform and assure those communities of Garda service and protection.
The Garda Síochána recognises the importance of the accurate and impartial recording of racially motivated offences in informing Garda management, Government and the public of the extent and nature of such incidents. The Garda authorities have also agreed a definition of a racially motivated incident and now have in place a nation-wide mechanism to record and gather information on racist incidents and offenders using the PULSE computer system. I am pleased to add that a European innovation prize amounting to €30,000 was awarded to Garda community relations to fund the following two publications, Intercultural Ireland – Your Changing Community, which is issued to members of the Garda Síochána, and Intercultural Ireland – Your Police Service, which is circulated to members of ethnic minorities resident in Ireland.
At a more general level, it is the role of the Equality Authority to promote awareness of the overall equality framework, of which anti-racism measures are a constituent part. The authority works at many levels and with many bodies towards the elimination of racial discrimination and harassment within society. The Office of the Director of Equality Investigations, the Equality Tribunal, is the main body for investigating and mediating on cases of discrimination and harassment.
There is a system in place within the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism to record racially motivated incidents. As the Deputy may be aware, the NCCRI is an independent body which is funded by my Department. It is an umbrella organisation representing a range of NGOs and it operates a system of recording the number, type and location of racist incidents and also identifies emerging trends. The NCCRI publishes its findings every six months and its third report, covering the period May to October 2002, was published recently. As I have said in the House before, the NCCRI is assisting my Department in the review of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989. It is the role of my Department to monitor the situation and to recommend additional measures as appropriate.